Radiation image read-out method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Stimulating rays produced by a line light source are linearly irradiated onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image-has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation. Light emitted from the exposed linear area of the sheet is received with a line sensor comprising photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of a length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet and a direction normal to the length direction. The sheet is moved with respect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a direction different from the length direction of the linear area of the sheet. Operation processing is performed on outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have been obtained at respective positions of movement and correspond to an identical site on the sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a radiation image read-out method andapparatus. This invention particularly relates to a radiation imageread-out method and apparatus, wherein light emitted by a stimulablephosphor sheet is detected with a line sensor or an area sensor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] It has been proposed to use stimulable phosphors in radiationimage recording and reproducing systems. Specifically, a radiation imageof an object, such as a human body, is recorded on a stimulable phosphorsheet, which comprises a substrate and a layer of the stimulablephosphor overlaid on the substrate Stimulating rays, such as a laserbeam, are deflected and caused to scan pixels in the radiation image,which has been stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet, one afteranother. The stimulating rays cause the stimulable phosphor sheet toemit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon duringits exposure to the radiation. The light emitted successively from thepixels in the radiation image having been stored on the stimulablephosphor sheet, upon stimulation thereof, is photoelectrically detectedand converted into an electric image signal by photoelectric read-outmeans. The stimulable phosphor sheet, from which the image signal hasbeen detected, is then exposed to erasing light, and radiation-energyremaining thereon is thereby released.

[0005] The image signal, which has been obtained from the radiationimage recording and reproducing systems, is then subjected to imageprocessing, such as gradation processing and processing in the frequencydomain, such that a visible radiation image, which has good imagequality and can serve as an effective tool in, particularly, theefficient and accurate diagnosis of an illness, can be obtained. Theimage signal having been obtained from the image processing is utilizedfor reproducing a visible image for diagnosis, or the like, on film oron a high resolution cathode ray tube (CRT) display device. Thestimulable phosphor sheet, from which residual radiation energy has beenreleased with the erasing light, can be used again for the recording ofa radiation image.

[0006] Novel radiation image read-out apparatuses for use in theradiation image recording and reproducing systems described above havebeen proposed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent PublicationNos. 60(1985)-111568, 60(1985)-236354, and 1(1989)-101540. In theproposed radiation image read-out apparatuses, from the point of view ofkeeping the emitted light detection time short, reducing the size of theapparatus, and keeping the cost low, a line light source for irradiatinglinear stimulating rays onto a stimulable phosphor sheet is utilized asa stimulating ray source, and a line sensor comprising a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along the length direction of alinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, onto which the stimulatingrays are irradiated by the line light source, is utilized asphotoelectric read-out means. Also, the proposed radiation imageread-out apparatuses comprise scanning means for moving the stimulablephosphor sheet with respect to the line light source and the line sensorand in a direction, which is approximately normal to the lengthdirection of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0007]FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are explanatory views showing relationshipbetween a line width of light emitted by a stimulable phosphor sheet anda photoelectric conversion device constituting a conventional linesensor. In FIG. 6A, a beam width (a line width) of light M emittedlinearly (i.e., in a linear pattern extending along a direction normalto the plane of the sheet of FIG. 6A) by a stimulable phosphor sheet 50is represented by d_(M). FIGS. 6B and 6C show the distribution of theintensity of the emitted light M along the line width direction. Asillustrated in FIG. 6B, in cases where the emitted light M is collectedby a line sensor, in which a light receiving width d_(P) of eachphotoelectric conversion device is smaller than the line width d_(M),the light collecting efficiency cannot be kept high. Also, asillustrated in FIG. 6C, in cases where the emitted light M is collectedby a line sensor, in which the light receiving width d_(P) of eachphotoelectric conversion device is approximately equal to the line widthd_(M), the light collecting efficiency can be kept high. However, insuch cases, since the size of each pixel is large, the problems occur inthat the resolution cannot be kept high. (The same problems occur alsowhen each photoelectric conversion device has a rectangular shape suchthat the length along the line width direction may be larger than thelength in the direction along which the line extends.)

[0008] The emitted light M has the intensity distribution shown in FIGS.6B and 6C since the line width of the stimulating rays L becomes largebefore impinging upon the stimulable phosphor sheet 50, since, asillustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the stimulating rays L of a line widthd_(L) (<d_(M)) having entered into the stimulable phosphor sheet 50 arescattered in the stimulable phosphor sheet 50, and since the emittedlight M having occurred in the stimulable phosphor sheet 50 is scatteredin the stimulable phosphor sheet 50 before being radiated out of thesurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 50.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The primary object of the present invention is to provide aradiation image read-out method, wherein desired resolution is obtainedand the efficiency, with which light emitted by a stimulable phosphorsheet is collected by a line sensor, is kept high.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiationimage read-out method, wherein directivity of stimulating rays radiatedout of a line light source is kept high, the intensity of the radiatedstimulating rays is kept high, and an image having a highsignal-to-noise ratio is thereby obtained.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide aradiation image read-out method, which enables a radiation imageread-out apparatus to be formed in a smaller outer shape than that of aconventional radiation image read-out apparatus.

[0012] A still further object of the present invention is to provide aradiation image read-out method, wherein a line light source and a linesensor are utilized and an image signal appropriate for reproduction ofa visible radiation image having a high signal-to-noise ratio is capableof being obtained.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiationimage read-out method, wherein a line light source and a line sensor areutilized and image signals for energy subtraction processing are capableof being obtained easily.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide aradiation image read-out method, wherein light emitted by a stimulablephosphor sheet is detected quickly and accurately as with aphotomultiplier, the efficiency with which the weak emitted light isutilized is enhanced, and an image signal appropriate for reproductionof a visible radiation image having a high signal-to-noise ratio iscapable of being obtained.

[0015] The specific object of the present invention is to provideapparatuses for carrying out the radiation image read-out methods.

[0016] A first radiation image read-out method in accordance with thepresent invention is characterized by detecting light, which is emittedfrom a linear area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensorcomprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed alongtwo-dimensional directions, performing operation processing on outputsof the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have beenobtained at respective scanning positions and correspond to an identicalsite on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and thereby enhancing a lightcollecting efficiency.

[0017] Specifically, the present invention provides a first radiationimage read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0018] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation,

[0019] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of alength direction (i.e., a major axis direction) of the linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet and a direction (i.e., a minor axisdirection) normal to the length direction, the received light beingsubjected to photoelectric conversion performed by the line sensor,

[0020] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor and in a direction different fromthe length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet,

[0021] iv) successively reading outputs of the line sensor in accordancewith the movement, and

[0022] v) performing operation processing on the outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have been obtained atrespective positions of movement and correspond to an identical site onthe stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0023] As the line sensor, an amorphous silicon sensor, a charge coupleddevice (CCD) image sensor, a CCD image sensor with back illuminator, ametal oxide semiconductor (MOS) image sensor, or the like, may beemployed. The line sensor may comprise a plurality of sensor chips (CCDimage sensor chips, MOS image sensor chips, or the like) arrayed in astraight line or in a zigzag pattern along the length direction of thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Each of the sensor chipsmay comprise a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed intwo-dimensional directions and in a matrix-like pattern or in a zigzagpattern.

[0024] In the first radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, as the line light source, a fluorescent lamp, acold cathode fluorescent lamp, a light emitting diode (LED) array, orthe like, may be employed. The line light source is not limited to alight source having a linear shape as in the fluorescent lamp and may beone of various other light sources, such as broad area lasers (e.g., abroad area semiconductor laser) and electroluminescence (EL) devices,which irradiate one-dimensional stimulating rays onto the surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet. The LED array or the broad area laser shouldpreferably be employed as the line light source, and a cylindrical lens,or the like, for suppressing spread of the stimulating rays to thedirection (i.e., the minor axis direction), which is normal to thelength direction (i.e., the major axis direction) of the line of thestimulating rays, such that the stimulating rays having been radiatedout of the light source may take on the form of the linear stimulatingrays on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0025] The stimulating rays may be radiated continuously out of the linelight source or may be pulsed stimulating rays radiated intermittentlyout of the line light source. From the point of view of reducing noise,the stimulating rays should preferably be pulsed stimulating rays havinghigh intensity.

[0026] The length of the irradiation region of the stimulating rays,which have been radiated out of the line light source, on the stimulablephosphor sheet, the length being taken along the major axis direction,should preferably be equal to or longer than the length of one side ofan effective image storing region of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Incases where the length of the irradiation region of the stimulating rayson the stimulable phosphor sheet is longer than the length of one sideof the effective image storing region of the stimulable phosphor sheet,the stimulating rays may be irradiated from an oblique angle withrespect to the side of the effective image storing region of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0027] In order for the degree of convergence of the stimulating rays,which have been radiated out of the line light source, on the stimulablephosphor sheet to be enhanced, the aforesaid cylindrical lens, a slit, aSELFOC lens (rod lens) array, a fluorescent light guiding sheet, anoptical fiber bundle, or the like, or a combination of two or more ofthe above-enumerated elements should preferably be located between theline light source and the stimulable phosphor sheet. In cases where theoptimum secondary stimulation wavelength for the stimulable phosphorsheet is approximately 600 nm, the fluorescent light guiding sheetshould preferably contain Eu³⁺ (luminescence center) as an activator ofa fluorescent substance and should preferably be constituted of a glassor polymeric medium.

[0028] The beam width of the stimulating rays, which have been radiatedout of the line light source, on the stimulable phosphor sheet shouldpreferably fall within the range of 10 μm to 4,000 μm.

[0029] In order for the degree of convergence of the light, which isemitted from respective areas of the stimulable phosphor sheet, on theline sensor to be enhanced, a distributed index lens array, such as aSELFOC lens array or a rod lens array, constituted of an image formingsystem in which an object surface and an image surface correspond toeach other in one-to-one relationship, a cylindrical lens, a slit, anoptical fiber bundle, or the like, or a combination of two or more ofthe above-enumerated elements should preferably be located between thestimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor.

[0030] A stimulating ray cut-off filter (a sharp cut-off filter or aband-pass filter) for transmitting only the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet and filtering out the stimulating rays shouldpreferably be located in the optical path of the emitted light betweenthe stimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor. In this manner, thestimulating rays should preferably be prevented from impinging upon theline sensor.

[0031] The size of a light receiving surface of each of thephotoelectric conversion devices constituting the line sensor is set tobe smaller than the beam width of the light, which is emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating rays having thebeam width described above, on the light receiving surface of the linesensor. A plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices are arrayedalong each of the length direction (i.e., the major axis direction) ofthe beam of the emitted light and the beam width direction (i.e., theminor axis direction). The length of the entire line sensor is set to beapproximately equal to or longer than the length of the beam of theemitted light, and the width of the entire line sensor is set to beapproximately equal to the beam width of the emitted light. Theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices may be arrayed in amatrix-like pattern such that they may stand in a straight line alongeach of the major axis direction and the minor axis direction.Alternatively, the photoelectric conversion devices may be arrayed suchthat they may stand in a straight line along the major axis directionand in a zigzag pattern along the minor axis direction. As anotheralternative, the photoelectric conversion devices may be arrayed suchthat they may stand in a straight line along the minor axis directionand in a zigzag pattern along the major axis direction. As a furtheralternative, the photoelectric conversion devices may be arrayed suchthat they may stand in a zigzag pattern along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction.

[0032] In cases where the line sensor is constituted of a large numberof photoelectric conversion devices and there is the risk that adverseeffects will occur with respect to a transfer rate, memory devicescorresponding to the respective photoelectric conversion devices may beutilized, and an electric charge having been accumulated in each of thephotoelectric conversion devices during a charge accumulation period maybe stored in the corresponding memory device. In the next chargeaccumulation period, the electric charge may be read from each memorydevice. In this manner, the charge accumulation time may be preventedfrom becoming short due to an increase in the charge transfer time.

[0033] The number of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed ineach row along the major axis direction of the line sensor shouldpreferably be at least 1,000. The length of the line sensor, as measuredat the light receiving surface, should preferably be longer than orequal to the length of one side of the effective image storing region ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0034] As will be understood from the specification, it should be notedthat the term “moving a stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to a linelight source and a line sensor” as used herein means movement of thestimulable phosphor sheet relative to the line light source and the linesensor, and embraces the cases wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet ismoved while the line light source and the line sensor are keptstationary, the cases wherein the line light source and the line sensorare moved while the stimulable phosphor sheet is kept stationary, andthe cases wherein both the stimulable phosphor sheet and the line lightsource and the line sensor are moved. In cases where the line lightsource and the line sensor are moved, they should be moved together witheach other.

[0035] The term “position of movement” as used herein means the positionat the time at which the photoelectric detection is performed by theline sensor and does not mean the position through which the stimulablephosphor sheet or the line light source and the line sensor pass at anygiven instant during the movement.

[0036] The direction along which the stimulable phosphor sheet is movedwith respect to the line light source and the line sensor (i.e., thedirection different from the length direction of the exposed linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet) should preferably be the directionapproximately normal to the length direction of the exposed linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet (i.e., should preferably be the minoraxis direction). However, the direction along which the stimulablephosphor sheet is moved with respect to the line light source and theline sensor is not limited to the minor axis direction. For example, incases where the lengths of the line light source and the line sensor arelonger than one side of the stimulable phosphor sheet as describedabove, the stimulable phosphor sheet may be moved with respect to theline light source and the line sensor along an oblique direction withrespect to the direction approximately normal to the length direction ofthe line light source and the line sensor or along a zigzag movementdirection, such that approximately the entire surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet may be uniformly exposed to the stimulating rays.

[0037] The line light source and the line sensor may be located on thesame surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet or on oppositesurface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet. In cases where the linelight source and the line sensor are located on opposite surface sidesof the stimulable phosphor sheet, the substrate of the stimulablephosphor sheet, or the like, should be formed from a material permeableto the emitted light, such that the emitted light may permeate to thesurface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet opposite to the surface onthe stimulating ray incidence side.

[0038] The operation processing may be simple addition processing,weighted addition processing, or one of various other kinds of operationprocessing. In cases where the simple addition processing or theweighted addition processing is employed, addition means may be utilizedas means for performing the operation processing.

[0039] Unless otherwise specified, the foregoing explanation of thefirst radiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention also applies to various other radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention, which will be described later.

[0040] A second radiation image read-out method in accordance with thepresent invention is characterized by reading out a radiation image,which has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, by irradiating alinear laser beam, which has been radiated out of a broad area laser,onto the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0041] Specifically, the present invention also provides a secondradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0042] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation,

[0043] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, the receivedlight being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by the linesensor,

[0044] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor and in a direction different froma length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,and

[0045] iv) successively reading outputs of the photoelectric conversiondevices of the line sensor in accordance with the movement,

[0046] wherein the line light source is a broad area laser, whichlinearly radiates out the stimulating rays.

[0047] In the second radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the laser beam (i.e., the stimulating rays) maybe radiated continuously out of the broad area laser or may be a pulsedbeam radiated intermittently out of the broad area laser. From the pointof view of reducing noise, the laser beam should preferably be a pulsedbeam having high intensity. The wavelength of the laser beam produced bythe broad area laser may fall within the range of 600 nm to 1,000 nm andshould preferably fall within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm.

[0048] The length of the irradiation region of the laser beam, which hasbeen radiated out of the broad area laser, on the stimulable phosphorsheet, the length being taken along the major axis direction, shouldpreferably be equal to or longer than the length of one side of theeffective image storing region of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Incases where the length of the irradiation region of the laser beam onthe stimulable phosphor sheet is longer than the length of one side ofthe effective image storing region of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thelaser beam may be irradiated from an oblique angle with respect to theside of the effective image storing region of the stimulable phosphorsheet.

[0049] The term “broad area laser” as used herein means the laser whichproduces the laser beam in the linear pattern. The broad area lasershould preferably be a broad area semiconductor laser constituted suchthat the length of the active layer along the major axis direction mayfall within the range of 50 μm to 1,000 μm and the length of the activelayer along the minor axis direction may fall within the range of 0.1 μmto 10 μm. However, the broad area laser employed in the second radiationimage read-out method in accordance with the present invention is notlimited to the broad area semiconductor laser and may be one of variousother lasers which produces the laser beam in the linear pattern.

[0050] The line sensor employed in the second radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention may comprise theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along only thelength direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, as inthe first radiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0051] In the second radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, as in the first radiation image read-out methodin accordance with the present invention, the line sensor may comprisethe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along eachof the major axis direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet and the minor axis direction normal to the major axisdirection, and the operation processing may be performed on the outputsof the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have beenobtained at respective positions of movement and correspond to anidentical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet. In such cases, if thebeam width of the light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet islarger than the width of each photoelectric conversion device, the linesensor as a whole can receive the emitted light over approximately theentire beam width. The operation processing, such as additionprocessing, is performed on the outputs of the photoelectric conversiondevices, which outputs correspond to an identical site on the stimulablephosphor sheet. In this manner, the light receiving efficiency can beenhanced.

[0052] The number of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed alongthe major axis direction of the line sensor should preferably be atleast 1,000. The length of the line sensor, as measured at the lightreceiving surface, should preferably be longer than or equal to thelength of one side of the effective image storing region of thestimulable phosphor sheet. In cases where the length of the lightreceiving surface of the line sensor is longer than the length of oneside of the effective image storing region of the stimulable phosphorsheet, the line sensor may be located obliquely with respect to the sideof the effective image storing region of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0053] The broad area laser and the line sensor may be located on thesame surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet or on oppositesurface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet. In cases where the broadare a laser and the line sensor are located on opposite surface sides ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, the substrate of the stimulable phosphorsheet, or the like, should be formed from a material permeable to theemitted light, such that the emitted light may permeate to the surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet opposite to the surface on thestimulating ray incidence side.

[0054] The stimulating rays irradiated to the stimulable phosphor sheetshould preferably have an intensity falling within a range such that thepower may not vary. In cases where the stimulating rays has an intensityfalling within a range such that the power may vary, the intensity ofthe stimulating rays may be monitored with a monitoring means. Whenvariation in power occurs, the broad area laser may be modulated withbroad area laser modulating means more quickly than the photoelectricconversion speed of the photoelectric conversion devices such that thepower of the broad area laser may become equal to a predetermined value.In this manner, adverse effects of power variation may be suppressed.

[0055] Third and fourth radiation image read-out methods in accordancewith the present invention are characterized by overlapping part of anoptical path of stimulating rays from a line light source to astimulable phosphor sheet and part of an optical path of emitted lightfrom the stimulable phosphor sheet to a line sensor, thereby reducingthe space occupied by the optical paths and reducing the size of anentire radiation image read-out apparatus.

[0056] Specifically, the present invention further provides a thirdradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0057] i) linearly radiating stimulating rays, which have been producedby a line light source,

[0058] ii) guiding the linear stimulating rays to an area of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,with stimulating ray guiding means, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0059] iii) guiding light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, withemitted light guiding means to a line sensor comprising a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a length direction of thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,

[0060] iv) receiving the emitted light with the line sensor, thereceived light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed bythe line sensor,

[0061] v) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the linelight source and the line sensor and in a direction different from thelength direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,and

[0062] vi) successively reading outputs of the line sensor in accordancewith the movement,

[0063] wherein at least part of an optical path of the stimulating raysfrom the line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and at leastpart of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to the line sensor overlap each other.

[0064] The term “overlapping of optical paths” as used herein means thatthe center point of the stimulating rays and the center point of theemitted light overlap each other.

[0065] The overlapping of at least part of the optical path of thestimulating rays and at least part of the optical path of the emittedlight should preferably be achieved by utilizing at least part ofoptical elements, which constitute the stimulating ray guiding means,and at least part of optical elements, which constitute the emittedlight guiding means, in common with each other.

[0066] As the stimulating ray guiding means, the aforesaid cylindricallens, the slit, the SELFOC lens (rod lens) array, the aforesaidfluorescent light guiding sheet, the optical fiber bundle, a hot mirror,a cold mirror, or the like, or a combination of two or more of theabove-enumerated elements may be employed.

[0067] The hot mirror is a dichroic mirror having been set so as toreflect the stimulating rays and to transmit the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet. The cold mirror is a dichroic mirror havingbeen set so as to transmit the stimulating rays and to reflect the lightemitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0068] As the emitted light guiding means, the distributed index lensarray, such as the SELFOC lens array or the rod lens array, constitutedof an image forming system in which an object surface and an imagesurface correspond to each other in one-to-one relationship, thecylindrical lens, the slit, the optical fiber bundle; the hot mirror,the cold mirror, or the like, or a combination of two or more of theabove-enumerated elements may be employed.

[0069] The stimulating ray cut-off filter (the sharp cut-off filter orthe band-pass filter) for transmitting only the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet and filtering out the stimulating rays shouldpreferably be located in the optical path of the emitted light betweenthe stimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor and at a position thatdoes not overlap the optical path of the stimulating rays. In thismanner, the stimulating rays should preferably be prevented fromimpinging upon the line sensor.

[0070] The size of a light receiving surface of each of thephotoelectric conversion devices constituting the line sensor shouldpreferably fall within the range of 10 μm to 4,000 μm, and should morepreferably fall within the range of 100 μm to 500 μm. The number of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along the length direction ofthe line sensor should preferably be at least 1,000. The length of theline sensor should preferably be longer than or equal to the length ofone side of the effective image storing region of the stimulablephosphor sheet. The plurality of the photoelectric conversion devicesmay be arrayed in a straight line or in a zigzag pattern along the majoraxis direction.

[0071] In the third radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the line light source and the line sensor arelocated on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0072] The foregoing explanation of the third radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention also applies to a fourthradiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention, which is described below.

[0073] As in the first radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, the fourth radiation image read-out methodin accordance with the present invention is characterized by utilizing aline sensor, which comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed along two-dimensional directions, in lieu of the linesensor employed in the third radiation image read-out method inaccordance with the present invention, detecting light, which is emittedfrom a linear area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, with the line sensor,performing operation processing, such as addition, on outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have been obtained atrespective scanning positions and correspond to an identical site on thestimulable phosphor sheet, and thereby enhancing a light collectingefficiency.

[0074] Specifically, in the fourth radiation image read-out method inaccordance With the present invention, the first radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention is modifiedsuch that the linear stimulating rays are guided with stimulating rayguiding means to the area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the light,which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,is guided with emitted light guiding means to the line sensor, and atleast part of an optical path of the stimulating rays from the linelight source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of anoptical path of the emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet tothe line sensor overlap each other.

[0075] The overlapping of at least part of the optical path of thestimulating rays and at least part of the optical path of the emittedlight should preferably be achieved by utilizing at least part ofoptical elements, which constitute the stimulating ray guiding means,and at least part of optical elements, which constitute the emittedlight guiding means, in common with each other.

[0076] Fifth and sixth radiation image read-out methods in accordancewith the present invention are characterized by utilizing a stimulablephosphor sheet having light emission region partitioned by a stimulatingray reflecting partition member into a plurality of fine cells.

[0077] Specifically, the present invention still further provides afifth radiation image-read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0078] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation,

[0079] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a lengthdirection of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thereceived light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed bythe line sensor,

[0080] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor and in a direction different fromthe length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and

[0081] iv) successively reading outputs of the line sensor in accordancewith the movement,

[0082] wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheetis partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member, whichextends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, intoa plurality of fine cells.

[0083] In the fifth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the size of the light receiving surface of eachof the photoelectric conversion devices constituting the line sensorshould preferably fall within the range of 10 μm to 4,000 μm, and shouldmore preferably fall within the range of 100 μm to 500 μm. The number ofthe photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along the length directionof the line sensor should preferably be at least 1,000. The length ofthe line sensor should preferably be longer than or equal to the lengthof one side of the effective image storing region of the stimulablephosphor sheet. The plurality of the photoelectric conversion devicesmay be arrayed in a straight line or in a zigzag pattern along the majoraxis direction.

[0084] The stimulable phosphor sheet employed in the fifth radiationimage read-out method in accordance with the present invention comprisesa substrate and a stimulable phosphor layer overlaid on the substrate.As will be described later with reference to FIG. 17A, the stimulablephosphor layer comprises a stimulable phosphor material, which emitslight upon stimulation thereof, and the stimulating ray reflectingpartition member, which partitions the stimulable phosphor material intoa plurality of fine cells and suppresses scattering of the stimulatingrays. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 17B, thestimulable phosphor material other than its front surface is surroundedby the stimulating ray reflecting partition member and the substrate.Alternatively, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 17C,the stimulable phosphor material other than its front surface issurrounded by only the stimulating ray reflecting partition member. Thestimulable phosphor sheet may be produced by filling the stimulablephosphor material in the fine cells, which have been defined by only thestimulating ray reflecting partition member or by the stimulating rayreflecting partition member and the substrate.

[0085] Each of the stimulable phosphor material and the stimulating rayreflecting partition member should preferably be formed from a binderand a stimulable phosphor dispersed in the binder. The reflectivity ofthe stimulating ray reflecting partition member with respect to thestimulating rays should be higher than the reflectivity of thestimulable phosphor material with respect to the stimulating rays. Forsuch purposes, by way of example, the binder-to-phosphor ratio (i.e.,the B/P ratio) in the stimulable phosphor material may be set to behigher than the B/P ratio in the stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember. Alternatively, the particle size of the stimulable phosphor inthe stimulable phosphor material may be set to be larger than theparticle size of the stimulable phosphor in the stimulating rayreflecting partition member.

[0086] A coloring agent, such as an ultramarine, may be added to thestimulating ray reflecting partition member. Alternatively, as thestimulable phosphor contained in the stimulating ray reflectingpartition member, a stimulable phosphor of a kind different from thestimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor material may beemployed. For example, the stimulable phosphor contained in thestimulating ray reflecting partition member may be an ultraviolet light(UV light) emitting phosphor, which emits UV light capable of effectingprimary stimulation of the stimulable phosphor. In cases where thestimulating ray reflecting partition member contains the coloring agent,the term “reflectivity of a stimulating ray reflecting partition memberwith respect to stimulating rays” as used herein means the reflectivityof the stimulating ray reflecting partition member from which thecoloring agent has been removed.

[0087] The size of each of the fine cells along the beam width directionshould preferably be at most 1,000 μm. The size of the each partitionwall, which is formed by the stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember, along the beam width direction should preferably be at most 100μm. The thickness of the stimulable phosphor layer should preferably beat least 100 μm.

[0088] Examples of such stimulable phosphor sheets include thosedescribed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos.59(1984)-202100, 62(1987)-36599, and 2(1990)-129600.

[0089] The term “light emission region of a stimulable phosphor sheet”as used herein means the region, which is filled with the stimulablephosphor material, in the aforesaid stimulable phosphor layer.

[0090] In the fifth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the line light source and the line sensor may belocated on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet or onopposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet. In cases wherethe line light source and the line sensor are located on oppositesurface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, it is necessary toemploy a stimulable phosphor sheet, wherein the stimulable phosphormaterial is surrounded by the stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember and a substrate formed from a material permeable to the emittedlight, such that the emitted light may permeate to the surface side ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet opposite to the surface on the stimulatingray incidence side.

[0091] The foregoing explanation of the fifth radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention also applies to a sixthradiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention, which is described below.

[0092] As in the first radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, the sixth radiation image read-out method inaccordance with the present invention is characterized by utilizing aline sensor, which comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed along two-dimensional directions, in lieu of the linesensor employed in the fifth radiation image read-out method inaccordance with the present invention, detecting light, which is emittedfrom a linear area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, with the line sensor,performing operation processing, such as addition, on outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have been obtained atrespective scanning positions and correspond to an identical site on thestimulable phosphor sheet, and thereby enhancing a light collectingefficiency.

[0093] Specifically, in the sixth radiation image read-out method inaccordance with the present invention, the first radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention is modifiedsuch that a light emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet ispartitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member, whichextends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, intoa plurality of fine cells.

[0094] In the sixth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, as in the first radiation image read-out methodin accordance with the present invention, the line sensor comprises theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each ofthe major axis direction and the minor axis direction normal to themajor axis direction, and the operation processing, such as addition, isperformed on the outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices, whichoutputs have been obtained at respective positions of movement andcorrespond to an identical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet.Therefore, in cases where the line width of the linear stimulating raysis larger than the width of each fine cell, the light simultaneouslyemitted from fine cells, which are adjacent to one another along theline width direction, is capable of being collected by correspondingrows of photoelectric conversion devices, and the light collectingefficiency can thereby be enhanced. Also, in cases where the width ofeach photoelectric conversion device is smaller than the width of eachfine cell, the emitted light scattering to the line width direction in asingle fine cell is capable of being collected by several correspondingrows of photoelectric conversion devices. As a result, the resolutionand the light collecting efficiency can be enhanced.

[0095] Seventh, eighth, and ninth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention are characterized by utilizing aline light source and a line sensor, detecting image signals, whichrepresent a radiation image having been stored on a stimulable phosphorsheet, from opposite surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming operation processing on the image signals.

[0096] Specifically, the present invention also provides a seventhradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0097] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0098] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with aline sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed linearly, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by the line sensor,

[0099] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor, and

[0100] iv) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement,

[0101] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emittinglight from front and back surfaces,

[0102] two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on one ofthe front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thetwo line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made upof a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0103] operation processing is performed on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.

[0104] In the seventh radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the LED array or the broad area laser shouldpreferably be employed as the line light source. Also, the aforesaidstimulating ray guiding means should preferably be employed forsuppressing spread of the stimulating rays to the direction (i.e., theminor axis direction), which is normal to the length direction (i.e.,the major axis direction) of the line of the stimulating rays, such thatthe stimulating rays having been radiated out of the light source maytake on the form of the linear stimulating rays on the surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0105] The stimulable phosphor sheet capable of emitting light fromfront and back surfaces, which is employed in the seventh radiationimage read-out method in accordance with the present invention, is astimulable phosphor sheet in which the substrate, or the like, ispermeable to the emitted light, such that the emitted light caused tooccur by the stimulating rays irradiated from at least one surface sideof the stimulable phosphor sheet may emanate from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet. In cases where two line lightsources are located respectively on the front and back surface sides ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, or in cases where the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet are stimulated one afteranother as in the eighth and ninth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention, which will be described later, itis necessary for the substrate of the stimulable phosphor sheet to bepermeable to both the emitted light and the stimulating rays. Also, incases where the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheetare stimulated one after another, the stimulable phosphor sheet may beprovided with a stimulating ray blocking layer as an intermediate layer.

[0106] Regardless of whether the stimulable phosphor sheet is stimulatedfrom one surface side or is stimulated simultaneously or successivelyfrom the front and back surface sides, it is possible to employ astimulable phosphor sheet, wherein the light emission region of thestimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflectingpartition member, which extends in the thickness direction of thestimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells. Such astimulable phosphor sheet is referred to as the anisotropic stimulablephosphor sheet. With the anisotropic stimulable phosphor sheet, thesharpness of an image reproduced from the image signal obtained from thephotoelectric conversion can be enhanced.

[0107] In the seventh radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices may be arrayed linearly in a straight line or in a zigzagpattern along the major axis direction. The size of a light receivingsurface of each of the photoelectric conversion devices constituting theline sensor should preferably fall within the range of 10 μm to 4,000μm, and should more preferably fall within the range of 100 μm to 500μm. The number of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along thelength direction of the line sensor should preferably be at least 1,000.

[0108] Also, the aforesaid emitted light guiding means may be locatedbetween the stimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor.

[0109] The line sensor employed in the seventh radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention may comprise theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along only thelength direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, as inthe first radiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0110] In the seventh radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, simple addition, weighted addition, or one ofother kinds of operation processing is performed on the image signalcomponents of the two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet. Such processing is referred to as thesuperposition processing. The superposition processing is described in,for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,398. With the superposition processing,noise occurring at random in the effective image storing region of thestimulable phosphor sheet can be reduced markedly, and slightdifferences in radiation absorptivity of an object can be illustratedclearly in an ultimately reproduced image, i.e., the detectioncapability can be enhanced markedly.

[0111] Unless otherwise specified, the foregoing explanation of theseventh radiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention also applies to the eighth and ninth radiation image read-outmethods in accordance with the present invention, which are describedbelow.

[0112] As described above, in the seventh radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention, the two line sensorsare located respectively on the opposite surface sides of the stimulablephosphor sheet. The eighth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention is characterized by locating the line sensoron only one surface side of a stimulable phosphor sheet, shifting theline sensor to the opposite surface side of the stimulable phosphorsheet after an image signal has been detected from the one surface ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, and thereby detecting an image signalfrom the opposite surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0113] Specifically, the present invention further provides an eighthradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0114] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0115] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with aline sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed linearly, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by the line sensor,

[0116] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor, and

[0117] iv) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement,

[0118] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emittinglight from front and back surfaces,

[0119] after detection of the emitted light from one of the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, theline sensor is shifted by sensor shifting means to the opposite surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor thereby detectingtwo image signals, each of which is made up of a series of image signalcomponents representing pixels in the radiation image, from the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

[0120] operation processing is performed on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.

[0121] In the eighth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the sensor shifting means may shift both the linesensor and the line light source to the opposite surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0122] As described above, in the eighth radiation image read-out methodin accordance with the present invention, the line sensor is shiftedfrom one surface side to the opposite surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and the image signal is thereby detected from theopposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet. The ninthradiation image read-out method in accordance with the present inventionis characterized by, instead of a line sensor being shifted, reversingfront and back surfaces of a stimulable phosphor sheet, and therebydetecting an image signal from the opposite surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0123] Specifically, the present invention still further provides aninth radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0124] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0125] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with aline sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed linearly, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by the line sensor,

[0126] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor, and

[0127] iv) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement,

[0128] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emittinglight from front and back surfaces,

[0129] after detection of the emitted light from one of the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, thefront and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet are reversed bysheet reversing means, the line sensor thereby detecting two imagesignals, each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

[0130] operation processing is performed on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.

[0131] In the seventh, eighth, and ninth radiation image read-outmethods in accordance with the present invention, in cases where theline light source and the line sensor are located on the same surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, from the point of view of keepingthe size of the radiation image read-out apparatus small, at least partof the optical path of the stimulating rays from the line light sourceto the stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of the optical pathof the emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to the linesensor should preferably overlap each other. Such a constitution isadvantageous particularly in cases where two line sensors are locatedrespectively on the opposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphorsheet (as in the seventh radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention). In cases where, besides the two linesensors, two line light sources are also located respectively on theopposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the effects ofreducing the size of the radiation image read-out apparatus can beobtained by overlapping at least part of the optical path of thestimulating rays and at least part of the optical path of the emittedlight at least on one surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.However, larger effects of reducing the size of the radiation imageread-out apparatus can be obtained by partially overlapping the opticalpaths on the two surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0132] In cases where a single line sensor is utilized for detecting theimages signals from the opposite surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet (as in the eighth and ninth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention), in the state in which the linesensor and the line light source are located on the same surface side ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, the optical paths described above shouldpreferably partially overlap each other. In this manner, the size of theradiation image read-out apparatus can be kept small.

[0133] Tenth, eleventh, and twelfth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention are characterized by utilizing aline light source and a line sensor, utilizing a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, detecting image signals, whichrepresent radiation images of a single object having been stored on thestimulable phosphor sheet, from opposite surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and performing a subtraction process on the imagesignals.

[0134] Specifically, the present invention also provides a tenthradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0135] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0136] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with aline sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed linearly, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by the line sensor,

[0137] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor, and

[0138] iv) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement,

[0139] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores two radiationimages of a single object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface,

[0140] two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on one ofthe front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thetwo line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made upof a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0141] a subtraction process is performed on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.

[0142] In the tenth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the LED array or the broad area laser shouldpreferably be employed as the line light source. Also, the aforesaidstimulating ray guiding means should preferably be employed forsuppressing spread of the stimulating rays to the direction (i.e., theminor axis direction), which is normal to the length direction (i.e.,the major axis direction) of the line of the stimulating rays, such thatthe stimulating rays having been radiated out of the light source maytake on the form of the linear stimulating rays on the surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet. Further, two line light sources may belocated on opposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0143] As the stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtractionprocessing, a stimulable phosphor sheet having two stimulable phosphorlayers formed at the front and back surfaces with a filter layer of alow radiation energy absorbing substance intervening therebetween may beemployed. Alternatively, a stimulable phosphor sheet having twostimulable phosphor layers with different radiation energy absorptioncharacteristics formed at the front and back surfaces may be employed.In cases where the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet are respectively stimulated (in cases where two line light sourcesare located respectively on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet, or in cases where the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet are stimulated one after another, thestimulable phosphor sheet may be provided with a stimulating rayblocking layer as an intermediate layer.

[0144] Regardless of whether the stimulable phosphor sheet is stimulatedfrom one surface side or is stimulated simultaneously from the front andback surface sides, it is possible to employ the anisotropic stimulablephosphor sheet described above. With the anisotropic stimulable phosphorsheet, the sharpness of an image reproduced from the image signalobtained from the photoelectric conversion can be enhanced.

[0145] In the tenth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices may be arrayed linearly in a straight line or in a zigzagpattern along the major axis direction. The size of a light receivingsurface of each of the photoelectric conversion devices constituting theline sensor should preferably fall within the range of 10 μm to 4,000μm, and should more preferably fall within the range of 100 μm to 500μm. The number of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along thelength direction of the line sensor should preferably be at least 1,000.

[0146] Also, the aforesaid emitted light guiding means may be locatedbetween the stimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor.

[0147] The line sensor employed in the tenth radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention may comprise theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along only thelength direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, as inthe first radiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0148] In the tenth radiation image read-out method in accordance withthe present invention, the subtraction process is performed on the imagesignal components of the two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet. Specifically, the image signalcomponents of the two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet, may be subtracted from each other withFormula (1) shown below. For such purposes, a combination of a flamememory and a subtracter, or the like, may be employed.

Sproc=Ka·SH−Kb·SL+Kc  (1)

[0149] in which Sproc represents the subtraction image signal obtainedfrom the subtraction process, each of Ka and Kb represents the weightfactor, and Kc represents the bias component (Ka, Kb, and Kc willhereinbelow be referred to as the parameters for the subtractionprocess), SH represents the high energy image signal representing theradiation image formed with radiation having a high energy level, and SLrepresents the low energy image signal representing the radiation imageformed with radiation having a low energy level.

[0150] Unless otherwise specified, the foregoing explanation of thetenth radiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention also applies to the eleventh and twelfth radiation imageread-out methods in accordance with the present invention, which aredescribed below.

[0151] As described above, in the tenth radiation image read-out methodin accordance with the present invention, the two line sensors arelocated respectively on the opposite surface sides of the stimulablephosphor sheet. The eleventh radiation image read-out method inaccordance with the present invention is characterized by locating theline sensor on only one surface side of a stimulable phosphor sheet,shifting the line sensor to the opposite surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet after an image signal has been detected from the onesurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and thereby detecting an imagesignal from the opposite surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0152] Specifically, the present invention further provides an eleventhradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0153] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0154] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with aline sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed linearly, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by the line sensor,

[0155] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor, and

[0156] iv) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement,

[0157] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores two radiationimages of a single object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface,

[0158] after detection of the emitted light from one of the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, theline sensor is shifted by sensor shifting means to the opposite surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor thereby detectingtwo image signals, each of which is made up of a series of image signalcomponents representing pixels in the radiation image, from the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

[0159] a subtraction process is performed on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.

[0160] In the eleventh radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, the sensor shifting means may shift both theline sensor and the line light source to the opposite surface side ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0161] As described above, in the eleventh radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention, the line sensor isshifted from one surface side to the opposite surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and the image signal is thereby detected fromthe opposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet. The twelfthradiation image read-out method in accordance with the present inventionis characterized by, instead of a line sensor being shifted, reversingfront and back surfaces of a stimulable phosphor sheet, and therebydetecting an image signal from the opposite surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0162] Specifically, the present invention still further provides atwelfth radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0163] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0164] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with aline sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed linearly, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by the line sensor,

[0165] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor, and

[0166] iv) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement,

[0167] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores two radiationimages of a single object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface,

[0168] after detection of the emitted light from one of the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, thefront and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet are reversed bysheet reversing means, the line sensor thereby detecting two imagesignals, each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

[0169] a subtraction process is performed on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.

[0170] In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth radiation image read-outmethods in accordance with the present invention, in cases where theline light source and the line sensor are located on the same surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, from the point of view of keepingthe size of the radiation image read-out apparatus small, at least partof the optical path of the stimulating rays from the line light sourceto the stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of the optical pathof the emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to the linesensor should preferably overlap each other. Such a constitution isadvantageous particularly in cases where two line sensors are locatedrespectively on the opposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphorsheet (as in the tenth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention). In cases where, besides the two linesensors, two line light sources are also located respectively on theopposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the effects ofreducing the size of the radiation image read-out apparatus can beobtained by overlapping at least part of the optical path of thestimulating rays and at least part of the optical path of the emittedlight at least on one surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.However, larger effects of reducing the size of the radiation imageread-out apparatus can be obtained by partially overlapping the opticalpaths on the two surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0171] In cases where a single line sensor is utilized for detecting theimages signals from the opposite surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet (as in the eleventh and twelfth radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention), in the state in which theline sensor and the line light source are located on the same surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the optical paths described aboveshould preferably partially overlap each other. In this manner, the sizeof the radiation image read-out apparatus can be kept small.

[0172] Thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention are characterized by reading out aradiation image, which has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet,by utilizing a back illuminated type of CCD image sensor.

[0173] Specifically, the present invention also provides a thirteenthradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0174] i) irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by asurface light source, onto a front surface of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0175] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating raysor from an area of a back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetcorresponding to the area of the front surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet, with an area sensor comprising a plurality of arrayedphotoelectric conversion devices, the received light being subjected tophotoelectric conversion performed by the area sensor, and

[0176] iii) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the area sensor,

[0177] wherein the area sensor is a back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor.

[0178] The present invention further provides a fourteenth radiationimage read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0179] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation,

[0180] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, the receivedlight being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by the linesensor,

[0181] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor and in a direction different froma length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,and

[0182] iv) successively reading outputs of the photoelectric conversiondevices of the line sensor in accordance with the movement,

[0183] wherein the line sensor is a back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor.

[0184] In the fourteenth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, as in the first radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention, the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor may comprise the plurality of the photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along each of the length direction of thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet and the direction, which isnormal to the length direction.

[0185] In the thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention, the back illuminated type ofCCD image sensor should preferably be cooled with cooling means.

[0186] An ordinarily utilized front illuminated type of CCD image sensordetects light incident from the front surface. The back illuminated typeof CCD image sensor detects light incident from the back surface. Forsuch purposes, for example, the back surface of the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor is scraped.

[0187] The front illuminated type of CCD image sensor is provided with aprotective layer constituted of Si, or the like, and therefore thesensitivity of the front illuminated type of CCD image sensor withrespect to light of a short wavelength region, such as blue light, ismarkedly low. The back illuminated type of CCD image sensor has markedlyhigh sensitivity with respect to light falling within the range of anultraviolet region to a blue light region. Also, the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor has a high quantum efficiency, and itssensitivity with respect to light falling within the range of a visiblelight region to an infrared region is higher than that of the frontilluminated type of CCD image sensor.

[0188] As the cooling means for cooling the back illuminated type of CCDimage sensor, means utilizing a Peltier device, or the like, may beemployed.

[0189] The back illuminated type of CCD image sensor should preferablybe produced by arraying a plurality of back illuminated type of CCDimage sensor chips. For example, in cases where the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor is employed as the line sensor, the backilluminated type of CCD image sensor may comprise a plurality of backilluminated type of CCD image sensor chips arrayed in a straight line orin a zigzag pattern along the length direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet. Each of the back illuminated type of CCDimage sensor chips may comprise a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed in two-dimensional directions and in a matrix-likepattern or in a zigzag pattern.

[0190] In the thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention, as the light source, an LEDarray, an organic EL device, a fluorescent lamp, a high-pressure sodiumlamp, a cold cathode tube, or the like, may be employed. The lightsource is not limited to a light source having a surface-like shape or alinear shape and may be one of various other light sources, whichirradiate linear or surface-like (area-like) stimulating rays onto thesurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Alternatively, the lightsource may be provided with an expanding mechanism for expanding theradiated stimulating rays such that linear or surface-like stimulatingrays may impinge upon the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Incases where the light source is the line light source, the broad arealaser, or the like, which radiates linear stimulating rays, may beemployed as the light source.

[0191] The stimulating rays may be radiated continuously out of thelight source or may be pulsed stimulating rays radiated intermittentlyout of the light source. From the p)int of view of reducing noise, thestimulating rays should preferably be pulsed stimulating rays havinghigh intensity. Also, the stimulating rays should have wavelengthsfalling within the stimulation wavelength range for the stimulablephosphor sheet. For example, in cases where the stimulable phosphorsheet is capable of being stimulated by red stimulating rays, thestimulating rays should have wavelengths falling within the range of 600nm to 1,000 nm, and should preferably have wavelengths falling withinthe range of 600 nm to 700 nm.

[0192] The line sensor employed in the fourteenth radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention may comprisethe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along onlythe length direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, asin the first radiation image read-out method in accordance with thepresent invention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0193] In the fourteenth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, as in the first radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention, the line sensor maycomprise the plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayedalong each of the major axis direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet and the minor axis direction normal to themajor axis direction, and the operation processing may be performed onthe outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs havebeen obtained at respective positions of movement and correspond to anidentical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0194] In the thirteenth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, the light source and the area sensor may belocated on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet or onopposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Also, in thefourteenth radiation image read-out method in accordance with thepresent invention, the line light source and the line sensor may belocated on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet or onopposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0195] In the thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention, the stimulating raysirradiated to the stimulable phosphor sheet should preferably be setsuch that the power (corresponding to the irradiation intensity or theluminance) of the stimulating rays may not vary. In cases wherevariation in power of the stimulating rays occur, the intensity of thestimulating rays may be monitored with a monitoring means. Whenvariation in power occurs, for example, the driving voltage for thelight source (or the line light source), or the like, may be modulatedwith modulating means more quickly than the photoelectric conversionspeed of the photoelectric conversion devices such that the emissionpower (the luminance) of the light source (or the line light source) maybecome equal to a predetermined value. In this manner, adverse effectsof power variation may be suppressed.

[0196] Fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention are characterized by reading out aradiation image, which has been stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet,by utilizing a stimulating ray source constituted of an organic ELdevice.

[0197] Specifically, the present invention still further provides afifteenth radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0198] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation,

[0199] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, the receivedlight being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by the linesensor,

[0200] iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to theline light source and the line sensor and in a direction different froma length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,and

[0201] iv) successively reading outputs of the photoelectric conversiondevices of the line sensor in accordance with the movement,

[0202] wherein the line light source is constituted of an organic ELdevice.

[0203] The present invention also provides a sixteenth radiation imageread-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0204] i) irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by asurface light source, onto a front surface of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0205] ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating raysor from an area of a back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetcorresponding to the area of the front surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet, with an area sensor comprising a plurality of arrayedphotoelectric conversion devices, the received light being subjected tophotoelectric conversion performed by the area sensor, and

[0206] iii) reading outputs of the photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting the area sensor,

[0207] wherein the surface light source is constituted of an organic ELdevice.

[0208] The organic EL device (also referred to as the organic LED) is anelectric current injection type of luminous device, in which the energyof recombination of positive holes and electrons injected into anorganic material is converted into optical energy and light emission isthereby effected. The organic EL device is a self-luminous devicecapable of emanating strong light having luminous intensity of severalhundreds of thousands of candelas (i.e., capable of emitting light withhigh luminance) (the luminance of an ordinary white fluorescent lamp is1,000 to 5,000 candelas), and having an energy conversion efficiency ofat least 10 lm/W (i.e., having a high luminous efficiency). The organicEL device has various characteristic properties such as that it can bedriven with a low d.c. voltage of at most 10V, can respond quickly onthe nS order, can emit light of various colors ranging from blue to red,does not have dependence upon field angle as in liquid crystal devices,and is very thin and light in weight. By virtue of the characteristicproperties, the organic EL device has recently attracted particularattention and has been used in practice. The organic EL device employedin the fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methods inaccordance with the present invention may be of one of various materialsand one of various structures and may be produced by one of variousproduction processes.

[0209] In the fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention, the light source constitutedof the organic EL device is not limited to those which produce thesurface-like or line-like stimulating rays, and may be one of variousother light sources, which irradiate linear or surface-like (area-like)stimulating rays onto the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet.Alternatively, the light source may be provided with an expandingmechanism for expanding the radiated stimulating rays such that linearor surface-like stimulating rays may impinge upon the surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0210] The stimulating rays may be radiated continuously out of theorganic EL device or may be pulsed stimulating rays radiatedintermittently out of the organic EL device. From the point of view ofreducing noise, the stimulating rays should preferably be pulsedstimulating rays having high intensity. Also, the stimulating raysproduced by the organic EL device should have wavelengths falling withinthe stimulation wavelength range for the stimulable phosphor sheet. Forexample, in cases where the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable ofbeing stimulated by red stimulating rays, the stimulating rays shouldhave wavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to 1,000 nm, andshould preferably have wavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to700 nm.

[0211] The line sensor employed in the fifteenth radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention may comprisethe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along onlythe length direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, asin the first radiation image read-out method in accordance with thepresent invention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0212] In the fifteenth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, as in the first radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention, the line sensor maycomprise the plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayedalong each of the major axis direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet and the minor axis direction normal to themajor axis direction, and the operation processing may be performed onthe outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs havebeen obtained at respective positions of movement and correspond to anidentical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0213] In the fifteenth radiation image read-out method in accordancewith the present invention, the organic EL device and the line sensormay be located on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheetor on opposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Also, inthe sixteenth radiation image read-out method in accordance with thepresent invention, the organic EL device and the area sensor may belocated on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet or onopposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0214] In the fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methodsin accordance with the present invention, the stimulating raysirradiated to the stimulable phosphor sheet should preferably be setsuch that the power (corresponding to the irradiation intensity or theluminance) of the stimulating rays may not vary. In cases wherevariation in power of the stimulating rays occur, the intensity of thestimulating rays may be monitored with a monitoring means. Whenvariation in power occurs, the driving voltage for the organic EL devicemay be modulated with modulating means more quickly than thephotoelectric conversion speed of the photoelectric conversion devicessuch that the emission power (the luminance) of the organic EL devicemay become equal to a predetermined value. In this manner, adverseeffects of power variation may be suppressed.

[0215] The present invention further provides a seventeenth radiationimage read-out method, comprising the steps of:

[0216] i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation,

[0217] ii) guiding light, which is emitted from the linear area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with light guiding opticalsystem to a line sensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectricconversion devices,

[0218] iii) receiving the emitted light with the line sensor, thereceived light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed bythe line sensor, and

[0219] iv) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the linelight source, the light guiding optical system, and the line sensor andin a direction different from a length direction of the linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet,

[0220] wherein the light guiding optical system has been subjected tocoloring for transmitting only the emitted light and filtering out thestimulating rays.

[0221] The present invention also provides a first radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the first radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention also provides a first radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0222] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0223] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, the linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along each of a length direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet and a direction normal to the lengthdirection,

[0224] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a directiondifferent from the length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0225] iv) reading means for successively reading outputs of the linesensor in accordance with the movement, the reading means being providedwith operation means for performing operation processing on the outputsof the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have beenobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans and correspond to an identical site on the stimulable phosphorsheet.

[0226] In the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, as the line sensor, an amorphous siliconsensor, a CCD image sensor, a CCD image sensor with back illuminator, aMOS image sensor, or the like, may be employed. The line sensor maycomprise a plurality of sensor chips (CCD image sensor chips, MOS imagesensor chips, or the like) arrayed in a-straight line or in a zigzagpattern along the length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet. Each of the sensor chips may comprise a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed in two-dimensional directionsand in a matrix-like pattern or in a zigzag pattern.

[0227] The present invention further provides a second radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the second radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention further provides a second radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0228] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0229] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, the linesensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversiondevices,

[0230] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a directiondifferent from a length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0231] iv) reading means for successively reading outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices of the line sensor in accordance withthe movement,

[0232] wherein the line light source is a broad area laser, whichlinearly radiates out the stimulating rays.

[0233] The line sensor employed in the second radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along only thelength direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, as inthe first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0234] In the second radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, as in the first radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, the line sensor maycomprise the plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayedalong each of the major axis direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet and the minor axis direction normal to themajor axis direction, and the reading means may be provided with theoperation means for performing the operation processing on the outputsof the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have beenobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans and correspond to an identical site on the stimulable phosphorsheet. In such cases, if the beam width of the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet is larger than the width of each photoelectricconversion device, the line sensor as a whole can receive the emittedlight over approximately the entire beam width. The operation meansprovided in the reading means performs the operation processing, such asaddition processing, on the outputs of the photoelectric conversiondevices, which outputs correspond to an identical site on the stimulablephosphor sheet. In this manner, the light receiving efficiency can beenhanced.

[0235] The present invention still further provides a third radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the third radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. Specifically,the present invention still further provides a third radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising:

[0236] i) a line light source for linearly radiating stimulating rays,which have been produced by a line light source,

[0237] ii) stimulating ray guiding means for guiding the linearstimulating rays to an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which aradiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0238] iii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of the linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet,

[0239] iv) emitted light guiding means for guiding the light, which isemitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed tothe linear stimulating rays, to the line sensor,

[0240] v) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a directiondifferent from the length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0241] vi) reading means for successively reading outputs of the linesensor in accordance with the movement, wherein at least part of anoptical path of the stimulating rays from the line light source to thestimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of theemitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to the line sensoroverlap each other.

[0242] In the third radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, the overlapping of at least part of theoptical path of the stimulating rays and at least part of the opticalpath of the emitted light should preferably be achieved by utilizing atleast part of optical elements, which constitute the stimulating rayguiding means, and at least part of optical elements, which constitutethe emitted light guiding means, in common with each other.

[0243] The present invention also provides a fourth radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the fourth radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. In the fourth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, thefirst radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention is modified such that the apparatus further comprisesstimulating ray guiding means for guiding the linear stimulating rays tothe area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and emitted light guidingmeans for guiding the light, which is emitted from the linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, to the line sensor, and at least part ofan optical path of the stimulating rays from the line light source tothe stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path ofthe emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to the line sensoroverlap each other.

[0244] In the fourth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, the overlapping of at least part of theoptical path of the stimulating rays and at least part of the opticalpath of the emitted light should preferably be achieved by utilizing atleast part of optical elements, which constitute the stimulating rayguiding means, and at least part of optical elements, which constitutethe emitted light guiding means, in common with each other.

[0245] The present invention further provides a fifth radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the fifth radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention further provides a fifth radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0246] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0247] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, the linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet,

[0248] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a directiondifferent from the length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0249] iv) reading means for successively reading outputs of the linesensor in accordance with the movement,

[0250] wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheetis partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member, whichextends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, intoa plurality of fine cells.

[0251] The present invention still further provides a sixth radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the six radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. In the sixthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention is modified such that a light emission regionof the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating rayreflecting partition member, which extends in a thickness direction ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.

[0252] The present invention also provides a seventh radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the seventh radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention also provides a seventh radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0253] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0254] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed linearly,

[0255] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor, and

[0256] iv) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans,

[0257] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emittinglight from front and back surfaces,

[0258] two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on one ofthe front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thetwo line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made upof a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0259] the reading means performs operation processing on image signalcomponents of the two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0260] In the seventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention (and in eighth and ninth radiation imageread-out apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, whichwill be described later), the line sensor may comprise the plurality ofthe photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along only the lengthdirection (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, as in thefirst radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0261] The present invention further provides an eighth radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the eighth radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention further provides an eighth radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0262] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0263] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed linearly,

[0264] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor, and

[0265] iv) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans,

[0266] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emittinglight from front and back surfaces,

[0267] the apparatus further comprises sensor shifting means foroperating such that, after detection of the emitted light from one ofthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, the sensor shifting means shifts the line sensor to theopposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensorthereby detecting two image signals, each of which is made up of aseries of image signal components representing pixels in the radiationimage, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and

[0268] the reading means performs operation processing on image signalcomponents of the two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0269] In the eighth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, the sensor shifting means may shift both theline sensor and the line light source to the opposite surface side ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0270] The present invention still further provides a ninth radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the ninth radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. Specifically,the present invention still further provides a ninth radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising:

[0271] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0272] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed linearly,

[0273] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor, and

[0274] iv) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans,

[0275] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emittinglight from front and back surfaces,

[0276] the apparatus further comprises sheet reversing means foroperating such that, after detection of the emitted light from one ofthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, the sheet reversing means reverses the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor thereby detecting twoimage signals, each of which is made up of a series of image signalcomponents representing pixels in the radiation image, from the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

[0277] the reading means performs operation processing on image signalcomponents of the two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet.

[0278] In the seventh, eighth, and ninth radiation image read-outapparatuses in accordance with the present invention, in cases where theline light source and the line sensor are located on the same surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, from the point of view of keepingthe size of the radiation image read-out apparatus small, at least partof the optical path of the stimulating rays from the line light sourceto the stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of the optical pathof the emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to the linesensor should preferably overlap each other.

[0279] The present invention also provides a tenth radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the tenth radiation image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention also provides a tenth radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0280] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0281] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed linearly,

[0282] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor, and

[0283] iv) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans,

[0284] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores two radiationimages of a single object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface,

[0285] two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on one ofthe front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thetwo line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made upof a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0286] the reading means is provided with means for performing asubtraction process on image signal components of the two image signals,which image signal components represent corresponding pixels on thefront and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0287] In the tenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention (and in eleventh and twelfth radiation imageread-out apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, whichwill be described later), the line sensor may comprise the plurality ofthe photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along only the lengthdirection (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, as in thefirst radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0288] The present invention further provides an eleventh radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the eleventh radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. Specifically,the present invention further provides an eleventh radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising:

[0289] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of-a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0290] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed linearly,

[0291] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor, and

[0292] iv) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans,

[0293] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores two radiationimages of a single object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface,

[0294] the apparatus further comprises sensor shifting means foroperating such that, after detection of the emitted light from one ofthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, the sensor shifting means shifts the line sensor to theopposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensorthereby detecting two image signals, each of which is made up of aseries of image signal components representing pixels in the radiationimage, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and

[0295] the reading means is provided with means for performing asubtraction process on image signal components of the two image signals,which image signal components represent corresponding pixels on thefront and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0296] In the eleventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, the sensor shifting means may shift both theline sensor and the line light source to the opposite surface side ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0297] The present invention still further provides a twelfth radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the twelfth radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. Specifically,the present invention still further provides a twelfth radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising:

[0298] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0299] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed linearly,

[0300] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor, and

[0301] iv) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans,

[0302] wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphorsheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores two radiationimages of a single object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface,

[0303] the apparatus further comprises sheet reversing means foroperating such that, after detection of the emitted light from one ofthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, the sheet reversing means reverses the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor thereby detecting twoimage signals, each of which is made up of a series of image signalcomponents representing pixels in the radiation image, from the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

[0304] the reading means is provided with means for performing asubtraction process on image signal components of the two image signals,which image signal components represent corresponding pixels on thefront and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0305] In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth radiation image read-outapparatuses in accordance with the present invention, in cases where theline light source and the line sensor are located on the same surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, from the point of view of keepingthe size of the radiation image read-out apparatus small, at least partof the optical path of the stimulating rays from the line light sourceto the stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of the optical pathof the emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to the linesensor should preferably overlap each other.

[0306] The present invention also provides a thirteenth radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the thirteenth radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. Specifically,the present invention also provides a thirteenth radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising:

[0307] i) a surface light source for irradiating stimulating rays onto afront surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0308] ii) an area sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thearea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed tothe stimulating rays or from an area of a back surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet corresponding to the area of the front surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and performing photoelectric conversion ofthe received light, the area sensor comprising a plurality of arrayedphotoelectric conversion devices, and

[0309] iii) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the area sensor,

[0310] wherein the area sensor is a back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor.

[0311] The present invention further provides a fourteenth radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the fourteenth image read-outmethod in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, thepresent invention further provides a fourteenth radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0312] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0313] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, the linesensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversiondevices,

[0314] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a directiondifferent from a length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0315] iv) reading means for successively reading outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices of the line sensor in accordance withthe movement,

[0316] wherein the line sensor is a back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor.

[0317] In the fourteenth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, as in the first radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the backilluminated type of CCD image sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the lengthdirection of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet and thedirection, which is normal to the length direction.

[0318] The thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-outapparatuses in accordance with the present invention should preferablyfurther comprise cooling means for cooling the back illuminated type ofCCD image sensor.

[0319] As the cooling means for cooling the back illuminated type of CCDimage sensor, means utilizing a Peltier device, or the like, may beemployed.

[0320] The back illuminated-type of CCD image sensor should preferablybe produced by arraying a plurality of back illuminated type of CCDimage sensor chips. For example, in cases where the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor is employed as the line sensor, the backilluminated type of CCD image sensor may comprise a plurality of backilluminated type of CCD image sensor chips arrayed in a straight line orin a zigzag pattern along the length direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet. Each of the back illuminated type of CCDimage sensor chips may comprise a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed in two-dimensional directions and in a matrix-likepattern or in a zigzag pattern.

[0321] The line sensor employed in the fourteenth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprisethe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along onlythe length direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, asin the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0322] In the fourteenth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, as in the first radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the linesensor may comprise the plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed along each of the major axis direction of the lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet and the minor axis directionnormal to the major axis direction, and the reading means may beprovided with operation means for performing operation processing on theoutputs of the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have beenobtained at respective positions of movement performed by the scanningmeans and correspond to an identical site on the stimulable phosphorsheet.

[0323] The present invention still further provides a fifteenthradiation image read-out apparatus for carrying out the fifteenthradiation image read-out method in accordance with the presentinvention. Specifically, the present invention still further provides afifteenth radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:

[0324] i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0325] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, the linesensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversiondevices,

[0326] iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source and the line sensor and in a directiondifferent from a length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and

[0327] iv) reading means for successively reading outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices of the line sensor in accordance withthe movement,

[0328] wherein the line light source is constituted of an organic ELdevice.

[0329] The present invention also provides a sixteenth radiation imageread-out apparatus for carrying out the sixteenth radiation imageread-out method in accordance with the present invention. Specifically,the present invention also provides a sixteenth radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising:

[0330] i) a surface light source for irradiating stimulating rays onto afront surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation,

[0331] ii) an area sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thearea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed tothe stimulating rays or from an area of a back surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet corresponding to the area of the front surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and performing photoelectric conversion ofthe received light, the area sensor comprising a plurality of arrayedphotoelectric conversion devices, and

[0332] iii) reading means for reading outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices constituting the area sensor,

[0333] wherein the surface light source is constituted of an organic ELdevice.

[0334] The line sensor employed in the fifteenth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprisethe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along onlythe length direction (i.e., the major axis direction). Alternatively, asin the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, the line sensor may comprise the plurality of thephotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of the major axisdirection and the minor axis direction, which is normal to the majoraxis direction.

[0335] In the fifteenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, as in the first radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, the line sensor maycomprise the plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayedalong each of the major axis direction of the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet and the minor axis direction normal to themajor axis direction, and the reading means may be provided withoperation means for performing operation processing on the outputs ofthe photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have been obtainedat respective positions of movement performed by the scanning means andcorrespond to an identical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0336] The present invention further provides a seventeenth radiationimage read-out apparatus for carrying out the seventeenth radiationimage read-out method in accordance with the present invention.Specifically, the present invention further provides a seventeenthradiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:

[0337] i) line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating raysonto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,

[0338] ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from thelinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to the lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, the linesensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversiondevices,

[0339] iii) a light guiding optical system for guiding the emittedlight, the light guiding optical system being located between thestimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor, and

[0340] iv) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to the line light source, the light guiding optical system, andthe line sensor and in a direction different from a length direction ofthe linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,

[0341] wherein the light guiding optical system has been subjected tocoloring for transmitting only the emitted light and filtering out thestimulating rays.

[0342] With the first radiation image read-out method and apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, the line sensor comprises theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each ofthe length direction of the linear light emitted by the stimulablephosphor sheet and the direction normal to the length direction.Therefore, if the light receiving width of each photoelectric conversiondevice is smaller than the line width of the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet (i.e., the line width on the light receivingsurface of the photoelectric conversion device), the line sensor as awhole can receive the emitted light over approximately the entire linewidth of the emitted light. As a result, the light receiving efficiencycan be enhanced. Also, the operation means performs the operationprocessing, such as addition processing, on the outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have been obtained atrespective positions of movement of the stimulable phosphor sheet or theline sensor performed by the scanning means and which correspond to anidentical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet. In this manner, thelight collecting efficiency at each site on the stimulable phosphorsheet can be enhanced. Further, since the light receiving width of eachphotoelectric conversion device is not set to be large for an increasein the light receiving size, the resolution does not become low, and adesired level of resolution can be obtained.

[0343] Furthermore, in cases where the line sensor is produced byarraying a plurality of sensor chips, it can be produced with a simpleproduction process, the yield of the products in the production processcan be enhanced, and the cost can be kept low. Particularly, in caseswhere the sensor chips are arrayed in a zigzag pattern, free regionswhich are not occupied by sensor chips can be formed in the line sensor,and electric circuits for pixel shift compensation and other elementscan be located at the free regions.

[0344] In the first radiation image read-out method and apparatus (andthe second to twelfth radiation image read-out methods and apparatuses)in accordance with the present invention, the line sensor is employed asthe photoelectric read-out means. Therefore, the advantages overconventional radiation image read-out methods and apparatuses utilizingphotoelectric read-out means other than the line sensor can be obtainedin that the time required to detect the emitted light can be kept short,the apparatus size can be reduced, and the cost can be kept low due toreduction in mechanical scanning optical parts, and the like.

[0345] With the second radiation image read-out method and apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, the linear laser beam, which iscoherent light, is irradiated from the broad area laser to thestimulable phosphor sheet, and the radiation image stored on thestimulable phosphor sheet is thereby read out. Therefore, the secondradiation image read-out method and apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention are advantageous over radiation image read-out methodsand apparatuses utilizing a fluorescent lamp, a cold cathode fluorescentlamp, or an LED array as the light source in that the directivity of thestimulating rays is high, the intensity of the stimulating rays is high,and therefore high stimulation energy can be imparted to the stimulablephosphor sheet. As a result, an image having a high signal-to-noiseratio can be obtained.

[0346] With the second radiation image read-out method and apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, wherein the line sensor comprisesthe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along eachof the length direction of the linear light emitted by the stimulablephosphor sheet and the direction normal to the length direction, thesame effects as those with the first radiation image read-out method andapparatus in accordance with the present invention can be obtained.

[0347] With the third and fourth radiation image read-out methods andapparatuses in accordance with the present invention, wherein at leastpart of the optical path of the stimulating rays and at least part ofthe optical path of the emitted light overlap each other, the spaceoccupied by the optical paths can be reduced, and the size of the entireradiation image read-out apparatus can be reduced. In cases where theoverlapping of the optical paths is achieved by utilizing at least partof optical elements, which constitute the stimulating ray guiding means,and at least part of optical elements, which constitute the emittedlight guiding means, in common with each other, at least part of theoptical elements of the stimulating ray guiding means and the emittedlight guiding means can be omitted. Therefore, the cost can be kept low.

[0348] With the fourth radiation image read-out method and apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, wherein the line sensor comprisesthe plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along eachof the length direction of the linear light emitted by the stimulablephosphor sheet and the direction normal to the length direction, thesame effects as those with the first radiation image read-out method andapparatus in accordance with the present invention can be obtained.

[0349] With the fifth and sixth radiation image read-out methods andapparatuses in accordance with the present invention, wherein the lightemission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by thestimulating ray reflecting partition member into a plurality of finecells, the stimulating rays impinging upon the predetermined area (thelinear area) of the stimulable phosphor sheet can be prevented fromscattering boundlessly beyond the fine cells in the stimulable phosphorsheet. Therefore, the light is emitted from only the line width areaapproximately identical with the linear area upon which the stimulatingrays impinge. Accordingly, the light collecting efficiency of the linesensor can be enhanced without the desired resolution becoming low.

[0350] Also, the emitted light occurs in units of fine cells, andtherefore the sharpness of the image reproduced from an image signalhaving been obtained from the photoelectric conversion can be enhanced.

[0351] With the sixth radiation image read-out method and apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, as in the first radiation imageread-out method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention,the line sensor comprises the plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed along each of the length direction of the linear lightemitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet and the direction normal to thelength direction, and the operation processing is performed on theoutputs of the photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs have beenobtained at respective positions of movement and correspond to anidentical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet. Therefore, in caseswhere the line width of the linear stimulating rays is larger than thewidth of each fine cell, the light simultaneously emitted from finecells, which are adjacent to one another along the line width direction,is capable of being collected by corresponding rows of photoelectricconversion devices, and the light collecting efficiency can be enhancedby, for example, adding outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices.Also, in cases where the width of each photoelectric conversion deviceis smaller than the width of each fine cell, the emitted lightscattering to the line width direction in a single fine cell is capableof being collected by several corresponding rows of photoelectricconversion devices. As a result, the resolution and the light collectingefficiency can be enhanced.

[0352] With the seventh, eighth, and ninth radiation image read-outmethods and apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, imagesignals representing the radiation image having been stored on thestimulable phosphor sheet are detected from the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the operation processing isperformed on image signal components of the two image signals, whichimage signal components represent corresponding pixels on the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Therefore, noiseoccurring at random in the effective image storing region of thestimulable phosphor sheet can be reduced markedly, and slightdifferences in radiation absorptivity of an object can be illustratedclearly in the ultimately reproduced image, i.e., the detectioncapability can be enhanced markedly.

[0353] Also, with the seventh, eighth, and ninth radiation imageread-out methods and apparatuses in accordance with 0 the presentinvention, wherein the line sensor comprises a plurality of rows ofphotoelectric conversion devices as in the first radiation imageread-out method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention,if the light receiving width of each photoelectric conversion device(i.e., the width taken along the minor axis direction of the linesensor) is smaller than the line width of the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor as a whole can receive theemitted light over approximately the entire line width of the emittedlight. As a result, the light receiving efficiency can be enhanced.

[0354] With the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth radiation image read-outmethods and apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, thestimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet for energysubtraction processing, which stores two radiation images of a singleobject formed with radiation having different energy distributions, thestimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emitting light, which carriesinformation of one of the two radiation images, from the front surface,and emitting light, which carries information of the other radiationimage, from the back surface. Two image signals are detected from thefront and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet by utilizingthe line sensor. The subtraction process is then performed on imagesignal components of the two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet. In this manner, a subtraction image,in which only the pattern of a specific tissue or structure embedded inthe radiation image has been enhanced or extracted, can be obtainedeasily.

[0355] Also, with the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth radiation imageread-out methods and apparatuses in accordance with the presentinvention, wherein the line sensor comprises a plurality of rows ofphotoelectric conversion devices as in the first radiation imageread-out method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention,if the light receiving width of each photoelectric conversion device(i.e., the width taken along the minor axis direction of the linesensor) is smaller than the line width of the light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor as a whole can receive theemitted light over approximately the entire line width of the emittedlight. As a result, the light receiving efficiency can be enhanced.

[0356] With the thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-outmethods and apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, theradiation image having been stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet isread out by utilizing the back illuminated type of CCD image sensorhaving a high quantum efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to obtain animage signal having a higher level than with the ordinarily utilizedfront illuminated type of CCD image sensor. As a result, an image havinggood image quality with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.Also, the back illuminated type of CCD image sensor can perform lightdetection more quickly and more accurately than the front illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor, and therefore quick and accurate lightdetection as with a photomultiplier can be achieved.

[0357] The quantum efficiency of the back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor is high over the ultraviolet to infrared region. Particularly,the back illuminated type of CCD image sensor has the characteristicfeatures in that, in the ultraviolet to blue region, the quantumefficiency is markedly high (e.g., at least 50%). (In the ultraviolet toblue region, the quantum efficiency of the front illuminated type of CCDimage sensor is approximately zero.) In cases where the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor is utilized in combination with, particularly,a stimulable phosphor sheet emitting blue light, the emitted lightutilization efficiency can be enhanced markedly, and markedly largeeffects of obtaining images having good quality can be obtained.

[0358] In cases where the cooling means for cooling the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor is utilized, the dark output can be reduced,and an image having good image quality free from noise can be obtained.

[0359] With the fourteenth radiation image read-out method and apparatusin accordance with the present invention, wherein the line sensorcomprises the plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayedalong each of the length direction of the linear light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet and the direction normal to the lengthdirection, the same effects as those with the first radiation imageread-out method and apparatus in accordance with the present inventioncan be obtained.

[0360] Further, in cases where the back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor is produced by arraying a plurality of back illuminated type ofCCD image sensor chips, the sensor can be produced with a simpleproduction process, the yield of the products in the production processcan be enhanced, and the cost can be kept low. Particularly, in caseswhere the back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chips are arrayed ina zigzag pattern, free regions which are not occupied by the chips canbe formed in the sensor, and electric circuits for pixel shiftcompensation and other elements can be located at the free regions.

[0361] In the thirteenth and fourteenth radiation image read-out methodsand apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, the areasensor or the line sensor is employed as the photoelectric read-outmeans, and light detection is performed with a single simultaneousdetection or successively with respect to lines. Therefore, theadvantages over conventional radiation image read-out methods andapparatuses utilizing photoelectric read-out means, such as aphotomultiplier, other than the line sensor can be obtained in that thetime required to detect the emitted light can be kept short, theapparatus size can be reduced, and the cost can be kept low due toreduction in mechanical scanning optical parts, and the like.

[0362] With the fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methodsand apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, the radiationimage stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet is read out by utilizingthe stimulating ray source constituted of the organic EL device.Therefore, the fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methodsand apparatuses in accordance with the present invention areadvantageous over radiation image read-out methods and apparatusesutilizing a fluorescent lamp, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, or an LEDarray as the light source in that the intensity of the stimulating raysis high, sufficiently high luminance can be obtained, and therefore highstimulation energy can be imparted to the stimulable phosphor sheet. Asa result, an image having a high signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

[0363] In cases where the light source is constituted of the organic ELdevice, by the formation of the organic EL device in a line-like shapeor a surface-like shape, the line-like or surface-like EL light beamhaving a desired size can be produced by the organic EL device, and anlight expanding mechanism may not be provided. Also, the directivity ofthe stimulating rays can be enhanced. Particularly, in cases where theline light source is constituted of the organic EL device, theadvantages over a broad area laser capable of producing a laser beam ofhigh luminance can be obtained in that the line light source is compact(thin), cheap, and easy to process.

[0364] With the fifteenth radiation image read-out method and apparatusin accordance with the present invention, wherein the line sensorcomprises the plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices arrayedalong each of the length direction of the linear light emitted by thestimulable phosphor sheet and the direction normal to the lengthdirection, the same effects as those with the first radiation imageread-out method and apparatus in accordance with the present inventioncan be obtained.

[0365] In the fifteenth and sixteenth radiation image read-out methodsand apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, the areasensor or the line sensor is employed as the photoelectric read-outmeans, and light detection is performed with a single simultaneousdetection or successively with respect to lines. Therefore, theadvantages over conventional radiation image read-out methods andapparatuses utilizing photoelectric read-out means, such as aphotomultiplier, other than the line sensor can be obtained in that thetime required to detect the emitted light can be kept short, theapparatus size can be reduced, and the cost can be kept low due toreduction in mechanical scanning optical parts, and the like.

[0366] With the seventeenth radiation image read-out method andapparatus in accordance with the present invention, the light guidingoptical system, which is colored and thereby imparted with the filterfunctions for transmitting only the emitted light and filtering out thestimulating rays, is located between the line light source and the linesensor. Therefore, it is not necessary for a particular filter forfiltering out the stimulating rays to be inserted into the opticalsystem. As a result, the distance between the stimulable phosphor sheetand the light guiding optical system can be reduced, and the lightemitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet can be collected with a largeangular aperture (numerical aperture).

[0367] Accordingly, the intensity and the position of the emitted lightcan be detected with a high light collecting efficiency and highresolution. As a result, an image having high sharpness can be obtainedfrom the thus detected image signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0368]FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the firstradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0369]FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 1A,

[0370]FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a line sensor in theembodiment of FIG. 1A,

[0371]FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory views showing relationship betweena beam width of stimulating rays and a beam width of emitted light,

[0372]FIG. 3C is a graph showing an intensity distribution of theemitted light along the beam width direction,

[0373]FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are explanatory views showing how theembodiment of FIG. 1A operates,

[0374]FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing memory regions in a memory ofaddition means, which correspond to sites on a stimulable phosphorsheet,

[0375]FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are explanatory views showing relationshipbetween a beam width of emitted light and one of photoelectricconversion devices constituting a conventional line sensor,

[0376]FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing different examplesof arraying of photoelectric conversion devices constituting the linesensor in the embodiment of FIG. 1A,

[0377]FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of thefirst radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0378]FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a further different embodimentof the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0379]FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are explanatory views showing examples ofCCD image sensors, which are constituted of a plurality of CCD imagesensor chips and serve as the line sensors,

[0380]FIGS. 10D, 10E, and 10F are explanatory views showing examples ofarraying of photoelectric conversion devices constituting the CCD imagesensor chips,

[0381]FIGS. 10G, 10H, and 10I are explanatory views showing differentexamples of CCD image sensors, which are constituted of a plurality ofCCD image sensor chips and serve as the line sensors,

[0382]FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the secondradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0383]FIG. 11B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 11A,

[0384]FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a line sensor in theembodiment of FIG. 11A,

[0385]FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the thirdradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0386]FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of thethird radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0387]FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fifthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0388]FIG. 15B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 15A,

[0389]FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a line sensor in theembodiment of FIG. 15A,

[0390]FIG. 17A is a perspective view showing a stimulable phosphor sheetin the embodiment of FIG. 15A,

[0391]FIGS. 17B and 17C are sectional views showing examples ofstructures of the stimulable phosphor sheet shown in FIG. 17A,

[0392]FIG. 18A is an explanatory view showing relationship between abeam width of stimulating rays and a beam width of emitted light in theembodiment of FIG. 15A,

[0393]FIG. 18B is a graph showing an intensity distribution of theemitted light in the embodiment of FIG. 15A,

[0394]FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing relationship between a beamwidth of emitted light and a width of a line sensor in an embodiment ofthe sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, in which the line sensor comprises a plurality ofrows of photoelectric conversion devices,

[0395]FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the line sensor in theembodiment of FIG. 19,

[0396]FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C are explanatory views showing how theembodiment of FIG. 19 operates,

[0397]FIG. 22 is a conceptual view showing memory regions in a memory ofaddition means, which correspond to sites on the stimulable phosphorsheet (fine cells in the stimulable phosphor sheet),

[0398]FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing relationship between a beamwidth of emitted light and a width of a line sensor in a differentembodiment of the sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, in which the line sensor comprises aplurality of rows of photoelectric conversion devices,

[0399]FIG. 24 is a sectional view showing a further different embodimentof the sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0400]FIG. 25 is a sectional view showing a still further differentembodiment of the sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention,

[0401]FIG. 26A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of theseventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0402]FIG. 26B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 26A,

[0403]FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing relationship between a linesensor 20 and a direction of movement of a stimulable phosphor sheet50′,

[0404]FIG. 28 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of theseventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0405]FIG. 29A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the eighthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0406]FIG. 29B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 29A,

[0407]FIG. 30 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of theeighth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0408]FIG. 31 is a sectional view showing a further different embodimentof the eighth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0409]FIG. 32A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the ninthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0410]FIG. 32B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 32A,

[0411]FIG. 33A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the tenthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0412]FIG. 33B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 33A,

[0413]FIGS. 34A and 34B are sectional views showing examples ofstimulable phosphor sheets for energy subtraction processing,

[0414]FIG. 35 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of thetenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention,

[0415]FIG. 36A is a perspective view showing an anisotropic stimulablephosphor sheet,

[0416]FIGS. 36B and 36C are sectional views showing examples ofstructures of the anisotropic stimulable phosphor sheet shown in FIG.36A,

[0417]FIG. 37A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of theeleventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0418]FIG. 37B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 37A,

[0419]FIG. 38 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of theeleventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0420]FIG. 39 is a sectional view showing a further different embodimentof the eleventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance withthe present invention,

[0421]FIG. 40A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of thetwelfth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0422]FIG. 40B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 40A,

[0423]FIG. 41 is a graph showing typical spectral sensitivitycharacteristics of a back illuminated type of CCD image sensor,

[0424]FIG. 42 is a graph showing typical dark output-temperaturecharacteristics of the back illuminated type of CCD image sensor,

[0425]FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 43C are explanatory views showing examples ofback illuminated type of CCD image sensors, which are constituted of aplurality of back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chips and serveas the line sensors,

[0426]FIGS. 43D, 43E, 43F, and 43G are explanatory views showingexamples of arraying of photoelectric conversion devices constitutingthe back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chips,

[0427]FIGS. 43H, 43I, and 43J are explanatory views showing differentexamples of back illuminated type of CCD image sensors, which areconstituted of a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD image sensorchips and serve as the line sensors,

[0428]FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of theseventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0429]FIG. 45 is a side view showing the embodiment of FIG. 44,

[0430]FIG. 46 is a side view showing a different embodiment of theseventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention,

[0431]FIG. 47 is a side view showing a further different embodiment ofthe seventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance withthe present invention,

[0432]FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment ofthe radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, and

[0433]FIG. 49 is a graph showing a wave form of a reference imagesignal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0434] The present invention will hereinbelow be described in furtherdetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0435]FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the firstradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 1A.FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a line sensor in the embodiment ofFIG. 1A.

[0436] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises a scanning belt 40 for supporting a stimulablephosphor sheet (hereinbelow referred to simply as the sheet) 50, onwhich a radiation image has been stored, and conveying the sheet 50 inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The radiation image read-outapparatus also comprises a broad area laser (hereinbelow referred to asthe BLD) 11 for radiating out secondary stimulating rays (hereinbelowreferred to simply as the stimulating rays) L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The stimulating rays L areradiated out approximately in parallel with the front surface of thesheet 50. The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises anoptical system 12, which is constituted of a combination of a collimatorlens for collimating the linear stimulating rays L having been radiatedout of the BLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam only in onedirection. The radiation image read-out apparatus still furthercomprises a dichroic mirror 14, which is located at an angle of 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 50 and which isset so as to reflect the stimulating rays L and to transmit emittedlight M described later. The radiation image read-out apparatus alsocomprises a distributed index lens array (constituted of an array of aplurality of distributed index lenses and hereinbelow referred to as thefirst SELFOC lens array) 15. The first SELFOC lens array 15 convergesthe linear stimulating rays L, which have been reflected from thedichroic mirror 14, into a linear beam (having a line width ofapproximately 100 μm) extending along the direction indicated by thearrow X on the sheet 50. Also, the first SELFOC lens array 15 collimatesthe emitted M, which is emitted by the sheet 50 exposed to the linearstimulating rays L and which carries image information of the radiationimage stored on the sheet 50. The radiation image read-out apparatusfurther comprises a second SELFOC lens array 16 for converging theemitted light M, which has been collimated by the first SELFOC lensarray 15 and has then passed through the dichroic mirror 14, onto lightreceiving surfaces of photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting a line sensor 20, which will be described later. Theradiation image read-out apparatus still further comprises a stimulatingray cut-off filter 17 for transmitting only the emitted light M andfiltering out the stimulating rays L, which have been reflected from thefront surface of the sheet 50 and which are mixed slightly in theemitted light M having passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16.The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the line sensor20, which is constituted of a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emitted light M having passedthrough the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and for photoelectricallyconverting the emitted light M. The radiation image read-out apparatusfurther comprises image information reading means 30. The imageinformation reading means 30 is provided with addition means 31 forperforming addition processing on outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20, whichoutputs correspond to an identical site on the sheet 50. The imageinformation reading means 30 feeds out an image signal having beenobtained from the addition processing.

[0437] The first SELFOC lens array 15 acts such that an image of theemission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 50 is formed inone-to-one size relationship on the image surface at the dichroic mirror14. The second SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of theemitted light M on the dichroic mirror 14 is formed in one-to-one sizerelationship on the image surface at the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .

[0438] The optical system 12, which is constituted of the collimatorlens and the toric lens, expands the stimulating rays L, which come fromthe BLD 11, into a desired irradiation area on the dichroic mirror 14.

[0439] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the line sensor 20 comprises aplurality of (e.g., at least 1,000 pieces of) photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . arrayed in each row along the direction indicatedby the double-headed arrow X. Three such rows of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . extending in the direction indicated bythe double-headed arrow X stand side by side in the direction ofconveyance of the sheet 50 (i.e., in the direction indicated by thearrow Y). Each of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20 has the light receiving surface having asize of approximately 100 μm×100 μm. The size of each light receivingsurface is the size capable of receiving the emitted light M occurringfrom part having a size of approximately 100 μm×100 μm on the surface ofthe sheet 50. As the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . ,amorphous silicon sensors, CCD image sensors, MOS image sensors, or thelike, may be employed.

[0440] How this embodiment of the first radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0441] Firstly, the scanning belt 40 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow Y, and the sheet 50, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported on the scanning belt 40, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 50 is equal to the movement speed of the scanning belt 40.Information representing the movement speed of the scanning belt 40 isfed into the addition means 31.

[0442] The BLD 11 radiates out the stimulating rays L having a linearpattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm. The stimulating raysL are radiated out approximately in parallel with the front surface ofthe sheet 50. The stimulating rays L are collimated by the opticalsystem 12, which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toriclens and is located in the optical path of the stimulating rays L. Thecollimated stimulating rays L are reflected from the dichroic mirror 14to the direction that impinges perpendicularly upon the front surface ofthe sheet 50. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the reflected stimulating raysL are converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into a linear beam(having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm) extending along thedirection indicated by the arrow X on the sheet 50.

[0443] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the linear stimulating rays Limpinging upon the sheet 50 stimulate the stimulable phosphor at theexposed area (having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm). Thestimulating rays L also enter into the sheet 50 from the exposed area,are scattered to the areas neighboring with the exposed area, andstimulate the stimulable phosphor at the neighboring areas. In thismanner, the stimulable phosphor at the area (having a line width d_(M))containing the exposed area and the neighboring areas is stimulated. Asa result, the light M carrying the image information stored on the sheet50 is emitted from the area (having a line width d_(M)) containing theexposed area and the neighboring areas. The emitted light M has anintensity distribution along the line width direction shown in FIG. 3C.

[0444] The light M emitted from the area of the sheet 50 having the linewidth d_(M) is collimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passesthrough the dichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOClens array 16 onto each of the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the linesensor 20. At this time, the stimulating rays L, which have beenreflected from the front surface of the sheet 50 and are mixed slightlyin the emitted light M having passed through the second SELFOC lensarray 16, are filtered out by the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0445] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the relationship between the size ofeach photoelectric conversion device 21 and the distribution of theemitted light M on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 20 isset such that the line width d_(M) of the emitted light M on the surfaceof the sheet 50 may correspond to the total width (of approximately 300μm) of the three rows of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, .. . standing side by side in the direction indicated by the arrow Y.

[0446] The line sensor 20 photoelectrically converts the emitted lightM, which has been received by each of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . , and obtains signal components Q, Q, . . . fromthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . An image signal madeup of the signal components Q, Q, . . . is represented by S in FIG. 1B.

[0447] In accordance with the movement speed of the scanning belt 40,the addition means 31 cumulates and stores the signal components Q, Q, .. . , which have been received from the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . , in memory regions corresponding to respective sites onthe sheet 50.

[0448] How the signal components Q, Q, . . . are cumulated and storedwill hereinbelow be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B,4C, and FIG. 5. In this embodiment, as an aid in facilitating theexplanation, the optical systems located between the sheet 50 and theline sensor 20 are set such that the line width d_(M) of the emittedlight M on the surface of the sheet 50 and the line width d_(M) of theemitted light M on the receiving surface of the line sensor 20 maycoincide with each other. However, the first radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention is not limited to thecases wherein the line width d_(M) of the emitted light M on the surfaceof the sheet 50 and the line width d_(M) of the emitted light M on thereceiving surface of the line sensor 20 coincide with each other. Thesize of each of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20 and the number of the rows of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . standing side by sidealong the line width direction may be set in accordance with thecorrespondence relationship between the line width d_(M) of the emittedlight M on the surface of the sheet 50 and the line width d_(M) of theemitted light M on the receiving surface of the line sensor 20.

[0449] Firstly, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, in cases where thestimulating rays L are converged onto a site S1 at the leading end ofthe sheet 50, as viewed in the conveyance direction of the sheet 50(indicated by the arrow Y), the light M having the intensitydistribution shown in FIG. 4A is emitted from the leading end site S1and a neighboring site S2 on the sheet 50 due to the spread of thestimulating rays L. The light quantity of the light M emitted from thesite S1 on the sheet 50 is equal to Q2. The emitted light M of the lightquantity Q2 is received by a photoelectric conversion device 21, whichbelongs to a photoelectric conversion device row 20B shown in FIG. 2 andwhich corresponds to the site S1 on the sheet 50. The light quantity ofthe light M emitted from the site S2 on the sheet 50 is equal to Q3. Theemitted light M of the light quantity Q3 is received by a photoelectricconversion device 21, which belongs to a photoelectric conversion devicerow 20C and which corresponds to the site S2 on the sheet 50.

[0450] The photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20Bphotoelectrically converts the emitted light M of the light quantity Q2into an electric charge Q′2 and transfers the electric charge Q′2 intothe addition means 31. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in accordance with thescanning speed of the scanning belt 40, the addition means 31 storesinformation representing the electric charge Q′2, which has beenreceived from the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20B, ina memory region corresponding to the site S1 on the sheet 50. Also, thephotoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20C photoelectricallyconverts the emitted light M of the light quantity Q3 into an electriccharge Q′3 and transfers the electric charge Q′3 into the addition means31. The addition means 31 stores the information representing theelectric charge Q′3 in a memory region corresponding to the site S2 onthe sheet 50.

[0451] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the sheet 50 is conveyed,and the stimulating rays L are converged onto the site S2 on the sheet50. In this state, as described above, the light M is emitted from thesite S2 and the neighboring sites S1 and S3 on the sheet 50. The light Mof a light quantity Q4 is emitted from the site S1, the light M of alight quantity Q5 is emitted from the site S2, and the light M of alight quantity Q6 is emitted from the site S3. The emitted light M isreceived by the corresponding photoelectric conversion device 21 of therow 20A, the corresponding photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row20B, and the corresponding photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row20C.

[0452] The photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20A, thephotoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20B, and the photoelectricconversion device 21 of the row 20C convert the emitted light M intoelectric charges Q′4, Q′5, and Q′6 and transfer them into the additionmeans 31.

[0453] In accordance with the scanning speed of the scanning belt 40,the addition means 31 stores pieces of information representing theelectric charges Q′4, Q′5, and Q′6, which have been receivedrespectively from the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20A,the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20B, and thephotoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20C, in memory regionscorresponding to the sites S1, S2, and S3 on the sheet 50. In the memoryregion corresponding to the site S1, the value of the electric chargeQ′4 is added to the previously stored value of the electric charge Q′2.Also, in the memory region corresponding to the site S2, the value ofthe electric charge Q′5 is added to the previously stored value of theelectric charge Q′3.

[0454] As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the sheet 50 is then conveyed, and thestimulating rays L are converged onto the site S3 on the sheet 50. Inthis state, in the same manner as that described above, pieces ofinformation representing electric charges Q′7, Q′8, and Q′9, which havebeen received respectively from the photoelectric conversion device 21of the row 20A, the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20B,and the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20C, are stored inthe memory regions corresponding to the sites S2, S3, and S4 on thesheet 50 and added to the previous stored values.

[0455] The operation described above is iterated at respective positionsof conveyance of the sheet 50. In this manner, as illustrated in FIG. 5,the total sum of the emitted light M having been received at therespective positions of conveyance of the sheet 50 is stored in thememory region of the addition means 31 corresponding to each site on thesheet 50.

[0456] The image signal having thus been stored in the memory is fedfrom the image information reading means 30 into an external imageprocessing unit, or the like, and utilized for reproducing a visibleimage for diagnosis, or the like.

[0457] As described above, with the embodiment of the first radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention,wherein the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . each having alight receiving width d_(P) (<d_(M)) shorter than the line width d_(M)of the emitted light M (i.e., the line width on the light receivingsurface of each photoelectric conversion device) are employed, a desiredlevel of resolution can be obtained, and the line sensor 20 as a wholecan receive the emitted light M over approximately the entire line widthof the emitted light. Therefore, the light receiving efficiency can beenhanced. Also, the addition means 31 performs the addition processingon the outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20, which outputs have been obtained atrespective positions of sheet movement performed by the scanning belt 40and which outputs correspond to an identical site on the sheet 50.Accordingly, the light collecting efficiency at each site on the sheet50 can be enhanced.

[0458] The first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance withthe present invention is not limited to the embodiment described aboveand may be embodied in various other ways. For example, various knownconstitutions may be employed as the light source, the light guidingoptical system between the light source and the sheet, the opticalsystems between the sheet and the line sensor, the line sensor, or theaddition means. Also, the radiation image read-out apparatus may furthercomprise an image processing unit, which performs various kinds ofsignal processing on the image signal obtained from the imageinformation reading means 30, and/or erasing means for appropriatelyreleasing radiation energy remaining on the sheet from which the imagesignal has been detected.

[0459] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the line sensor 20 employed in thisembodiment comprises the plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . arrayed in the matrix-like pattern such that theymay stand in a straight line along each of the length direction (i.e.,the major axis direction) of the line sensor 20 and the direction (i.e.,the minor axis direction) normal to the major axis direction. However,the line sensor employed in the first radiation image read-out apparatusis not limited to the constitution shown in FIG. 2. For example, as in aline sensor 80 illustrated in FIG. 7A, the photo electric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . may be arrayed such that they may stand in astraight line along the major axis direction (indicated by thedouble-headed arrow X) and in a zigzag pattern along the minor axisdirection (indicated by the arrow Y). As another alternative, as in aline sensor 90 illustrated in FIG. 7B, the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . may be arrayed such that they may stand in astraight line along the minor axis direction and in a zigzag patternalong the major axis direction.

[0460] Also, in the aforesaid embodiment of the first radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of theoptical path of the stimulating rays L and part of the optical path ofthe emitted light M overlap each other, and the size of the apparatus isthereby reduced. Alternatively, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 8,the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention may be constituted such that the optical path of thestimulating rays L and the optical path of the emitted light M may notoverlap each other.

[0461] Specifically, the radiation image read-out apparatus illustratedin FIG. 8 comprises the scanning belt 40 and the BLD 11 for radiatingout the linear stimulating rays L at an angle of approximately 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 50. The radiationimage read-out apparatus also comprises the optical system 12, which isconstituted of a combination of a collimator lens for collimating thelinear stimulating rays L having been radiated out of the BLD 11 and atoric lens for expanding the beam only in one direction, and whichcauses the linear stimulating rays L to impinge upon the front surfaceof the sheet 50. The radiation image read-out apparatus furthercomprises the SELFOC lens array 16 having an optical axis, which isinclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to thesurface of the sheet 50 and which is approximately normal to thedirection of travel of the stimulating rays L. The SELFOC lens array 16converges the light M, which is emitted by the sheet 50 when the sheet50 is exposed to the stimulating rays L, onto the light receivingsurfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20. The radiation image read-out apparatusstill further comprises the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 fortransmitting only the emitted light M and filtering out the stimulatingrays L, which are mixed slightly in the emitted light M impinging uponthe SELFOC lens array 16. The radiation image read-out apparatus alsocomprises the line sensor 20, which is constituted of the plurality ofthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . for receiving theemitted light M having passed through the stimulating ray cut-off filter17 and for photoelectrically converting the emitted light M. Theradiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the imageinformation reading means 30. The image information reading means 30 isprovided with the addition means 31 for performing addition processingon outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20, which outputs correspond to anidentical site on the sheet 50. The image information reading means 30feeds out an image signal having been obtained from the additionprocessing.

[0462] The SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of the emissionarea of the emitted light M on the sheet 50 is formed in one-to-one sizerelationship on the image surface at the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . The optical system 12,which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens, expandsthe stimulating rays L, which come from the BLD 11, into a desiredirradiation area on the sheet 50.

[0463] How the embodiment of the first radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, which is shown inFIG. 8, operates will be described hereinbelow.

[0464] Firstly, the scanning belt 40 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow Y, and the sheet 50, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported on the scanning belt 40, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 50 is equal to the movement speed of the scanning belt 40.Information representing the movement speed of the scanning belt 40 isfed into the addition means 31.

[0465] The BLD 11 radiates out the stimulating rays L having a linearpattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm. The stimulating raysL are radiated out at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respectto the front surface of the sheet 50. The stimulating rays L arecollimated by the optical system 12, which is constituted of thecollimator lens and the toric lens and is located in the optical path ofthe stimulating rays L. The collimated stimulating rays L impinge uponthe front surface of the sheet 50 at an angle of approximately 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 50. At this time,the stimulating rays L impinge upon the linear area (having a line widthd_(L) of approximately 100 μm) on the front surface of the sheet 50,which linear area extends in the direction indicated by the arrow X.

[0466] The linear stimulating rays L impinging upon the sheet 50stimulate the stimulable phosphor at the exposed area (having a linewidth d_(L) of approximately 100 μm). The stimulating rays L also enterinto the sheet 50 from the exposed area, are scattered to the areasneighboring with the exposed area, and stimulate the stimulable phosphorat the neighboring areas. In this manner, the stimulable phosphor at thearea (having a line width d_(M)) containing the exposed area and theneighboring areas is stimulated. As a result, the light M carrying theimage information stored on the sheet 50 is emitted from the area(having a line width d_(M)) containing the exposed area and theneighboring areas. The emitted light M passes through the stimulatingray cut-off filter 17, which filters out the stimulating rays L mixed inthe emitted light M. The emitted light M then impinges upon the SELFOClens array 16 and is converged onto each of the light receiving surfacesof the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting theline sensor 20.

[0467] The operation performed after the emitted light M is received bythe line sensor 20 is the same as that in the aforesaid embodiment ofthe first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0468] As described above, with the embodiment of FIG. 8, wherein thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . each having a lightreceiving width d_(P) (<d_(M)) shorter than the line width d_(M) of theemitted light M (i.e., the line width on the light receiving surface ofeach photoelectric conversion device) are employed, a desired level ofresolution can be obtained, and the line sensor 20 as a whole canreceive the emitted light M over approximately the entire line width ofthe emitted light. Therefore, the light receiving efficiency can beenhanced. Also, the addition means 31 performs the addition processingon the outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20, which outputs have been obtained atrespective positions of sheet movement performed by the scanning belt 40and which outputs correspond to an identical site on the sheet 50.Accordingly, the light collecting efficiency at each site on the sheet50 can be enhanced.

[0469] In the aforesaid embodiments of the first radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the BLD 11for producing the stimulating rays L and the line sensor 20 are locatedon the same surface side of the sheet 50, and the emitted light Memanating from the surface of the sheet 50, upon which the stimulatingrays L impinge, is received by the line sensor 20. However, the firstradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention is not limited to the aforesaid embodiments. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 9, a stimulable phosphor sheet 50′ whose substrateis formed from a material permeable to the emitted light M may beemployed, and the BLD 11 for producing the stimulating rays L and theline sensor 20 may be located on opposite surface sides of the sheet50′. In this manner, the emitted light M emanating from the surfaceopposite to the surface of the sheet 50′, upon which the stimulatingrays L impinge, may be received by the line sensor 20.

[0470] Specifically, the radiation image read-out apparatus illustratedin FIG. 9 comprises a conveyor belt 40′ for supporting the leading endportion and the tail end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 50′and conveying the sheet 50′ in the direction indicated by the arrow Y.(No image information is stored at the leading end portion and the tailend portion of the sheet 50′, or image information representing a regionother than a region of interest in the radiation image is stored at theleading end portion and the tail end portion of the sheet 50′.) Theradiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the BLD 11 forradiating out the linear stimulating rays L along the directionapproximately normal to the front surface of the sheet 50′. Theradiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the optical system12, which is constituted of a combination of a collimator lens forcollimating the linear stimulating rays L having been radiated out ofthe BLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam only in onedirection, and which causes the linear stimulating rays L to impingeupon the front surface of the sheet 50′. The-radiation image read-outapparatus still further comprises the SELFOC lens array 16 having anoptical axis, which is approximately normal to the front surface of thesheet 50′. The SELFOC lens array 16 converges light M′, which is emittedfrom the back surface of the sheet 50′ when the sheet 50′ is exposed tothe stimulating rays L (i.e., the surface opposite to the surface on thestimulating ray incidence side), onto the light receiving surfaces ofthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the linesensor 20. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises thestimulating ray cut-off filter 17 for transmitting only the emittedlight M′ and filtering out the stimulating rays L, which are mixedslightly in the emitted light M′ impinging upon the SELFOC lens array16. The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the linesensor 20, which is constituted of the plurality of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emitted light M′having passed through the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and forphotoelectrically converting the emitted light M′. The radiation imageread-out apparatus still further comprises the image information readingmeans 30. The image information reading means 30 is provided with theaddition means 31 for performing addition processing on outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the linesensor 20, which outputs correspond to an identical site on the sheet50′. The image information reading means 30 feeds out an image signalhaving been obtained from the addition processing.

[0471] The SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of the emissionarea of the emitted light M′ on the back surface of the sheet 50′ isformed in one-to-one size relationship on the image surface at the lightreceiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .The optical system 12, which is constituted of the collimator lens andthe toric lens, expands the stimulating rays L, which come from the BLD11, into a desired irradiation area on the sheet 50′.

[0472] How the embodiment of the first radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, which is shown inFIG. 9, operates will be described hereinbelow.

[0473] Firstly, the conveyor belt 40′ moves in the direction indicatedby the arrow Y, and the sheet 50′, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported by the conveyor belt 40′, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 50′ is equal to the movement speed of the conveyor belt 40′.Information representing the movement speed of the conveyor belt 40′ isfed into the addition means 31.

[0474] The BLD 11 radiates out the stimulating rays L having a linearpattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm. The stimulating raysL are radiated out in the direction approximately normal to the frontsurface of the sheet 50′. The stimulating rays L are collimated by theoptical system 12, which is constituted of the collimator lens and thetoric lens and is located in the optical path of the stimulating rays L.The collimated stimulating rays L impinge upon the front surface of thesheet 50′ from the direction approximately normal to the front surfaceof the sheet 50′. At this time, the stimulating rays L impinge upon thelinear area (having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm) on thefront surface of the sheet 50′, which linear area extends in thedirection indicated by the arrow X.

[0475] The linear stimulating rays L impinging upon the sheet 50′stimulate the stimulable phosphor at the exposed area (having a linewidth d_(L) of approximately 100 μm). The stimulating rays L also enterinto the sheet 50′ from the exposed area, are scattered to the areasneighboring with the exposed area, and stimulate the stimulable phosphorat the neighboring areas. In this manner, the stimulable phosphor at thearea (having a line width d_(M)) containing the exposed area and theneighboring areas is stimulated. As a result, the light M carrying theimage information stored on the sheet 50′ is emitted from the area(having a line width d_(M)) containing the exposed area and theneighboring areas. At the same time, the emitted light M′ having passedthrough the transparent substrate of the sheet 50′ emanates from alinear area (having a line width d_(M)′) of the back surface of thesheet 50′.

[0476] The emitted light M′, which emanates from the linear area (havinga line width d_(M)′) of the back surface of the sheet 50′, passesthrough the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17, which filters out thestimulating rays L mixed in the emitted light M′. The emitted light M′then impinges upon the SELFOC lens array 16 and is converged onto eachof the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20.

[0477] The operation performed after the emitted light M′ is received bythe line sensor 20 is the same as that in the aforesaid embodiment ofthe first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0478] As described above, with the embodiment of FIG. 9, wherein thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . each having a lightreceiving width d_(P) (<d_(M)′) shorter than the line width d_(M)′ ofthe emitted light M on the back surface of the sheet 50′ (i.e., the linewidth on the light receiving surface of each photo electric conversiondevice) are employed, a desired level of resolution can be obtained, andthe line sensor 20 as a whole can receive the emitted light M′ overapproximately the entire line width of the emitted light. Therefore, thelight receiving efficiency can be enhanced. Also, the addition means 31performs the addition processing on the outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20, whichoutputs have been obtained at respective positions of sheet movementperformed by the conveyor belt 40′ and which outputs correspond to anidentical site on the sheet 50′. Accordingly, the light collectingefficiency at each site on the sheet 50′ can be enhanced.

[0479] In lieu of the addition means, one of other kinds of operationmeans may be provided. Also, simple addition processing, weightedaddition processing, or one of various other kinds of operationprocessing may be employed.

[0480] The line sensor 20 employed in each of the aforesaid embodimentsof the first radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention is illustrated as being one which is produced as along line sensor having a length corresponding to the width of thestimulable phosphor sheet with a single production process. Currently,it is not impossible but is not easy to produce the long line sensor asa single member due to limitation upon the current CCD productiontechniques, such as pixel shift. FIGS. 10A through 10I show a techniquefor solving the technical problems described above. With the techniqueshown in FIGS. 10A through 10I, a plurality of CCD image sensor chips,each of which is smaller than the width of the stimulable phosphorsheet, are utilized. The plurality of the CCD image sensor chips arearrayed along the length direction of the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, i.e., along the major axis direction (indicated by thearrow X), such that they may have a total length corresponding to thewidth of the stimulable phosphor sheet. In this manner, a single CCDline sensor is constituted. FIG. 10A shows a CCD line sensor 420comprising a plurality of CCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . arrayedin a straight line along the major axis direction (indicated by thearrow X). FIG. 10B shows a CCD line sensor 430 comprising a plurality ofCCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . arrayed in a zigzag pattern alongthe major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X), such that adjacentCCD image sensor chips 422, 422 do not overlap each other. FIG. 10Cshows a CCD line sensor 440 comprising a plurality of CCD image sensorchips 422, 422, . . . arrayed in a zigzag pattern along the major axisdirection (indicated by the arrow X), such that adjacent CCD imagesensor chips 422, 422 partly overlap each other. In FIGS. 10B and 10C,at free regions indicated by the “*” mark, which are not occupied by theCCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . , electric circuits for pixelshift compensation and other elements can be located.

[0481]FIGS. 10D, 10E, and 10F show examples of array patterns of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting each of theCCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . The CCD image sensor chip 422shown in FIG. 10D employs the array pattern in the line sensor 20 shownin FIG. 2. In the CCD image sensor chip 422 shown in FIG. 10D, aplurality of rows of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .are located in parallel. Specifically, in the CCD image sensor chip 422shown in FIG. 10D, the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .are arrayed along the direction indicated by the arrow X and thusconstitute one row. A plurality of (in this case, three) such rows ofthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . extending along thedirection indicated by the arrow X stand side by side in the directionof sheet conveyance (indicated by the arrow Y). The CCD image sensorchip 422 shown in FIG. 10E employs the array pattern in the line sensor80 shown in FIG. 7A. Specifically, in the CCD image sensor chip 422shown in FIG. 10E, the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .are arrayed in a straight line along the major axis direction (indicatedby the arrow X) and in a zigzag pattern along the minor axis direction(indicated by the arrow Y). The CCD image sensor chip 422 shown in FIG.10F employs the array pattern in the line sensor 90 shown in FIG. 7B.Specifically, in the CCD image sensor chip 422 shown in FIG. 10F, thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . are arrayed in a straightline along the minor axis direction (indicated by the arrow Y) and in azigzag pattern along the major axis direction (indicated by the arrowX). By way of example, in cases where the number of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . arrayed in each row along the majoraxis direction (indicated by the arrow X) in the line sensor 420, 430,or 440 is equal to 1,000, the number of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . arrayed along the major axis direction (indicatedby the arrow X) in one CCD image sensor chip 422 may fall within therange of {fraction (1/100)} to {fraction (1/10)}.

[0482] The CCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . constituting each ofthe line sensors 420, 430, and 440 shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C maytake one of array patterns shown in FIGS. 10D, 10E, and 10F. Also, inthe line sensors 420, 430, and 440 shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, theCCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . are arrayed such that the lengthdirection (indicated by the arrow X) of each CCD image sensor chip 422may coincide with the length direction (indicated by the arrow X) of theline sensor. Alternatively, as in line sensors 450, 460, and 470illustrated in FIGS. 10G, 10H, and 10I, the CCD image sensor chips 422,422, . . . may be arrayed such that the width direction (indicated bythe arrow Y) of each CCD image sensor chip 422 may coincide with thelength direction (indicated by the arrow X) of the line sensor. With theline sensors shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10G, 10H, and 10I, inaccordance with the array patterns of the CCD image sensor chips 422,422, . . . the same effects as those of the line sensors 20, 80, and 90shown in FIGS. 2, 7A, and 7B can be obtained.

[0483] With the technique described above, wherein one CCD line sensoris constituted by arraying plurality of the CCD image sensor chips alongthe major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X) such that they mayhave a total length corresponding to the width of the stimulablephosphor sheet, the line sensor can be produced with a simple productionprocess, the yield of the products in the production process can beenhanced, and the cost can be kept low.

[0484] Further, signal components can be taken from each of the CCDimage sensor chips, and therefore compensation for pixel shift can beperformed more easily than when the entire line sensor is produced as asingle member. Particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 10C, in cases wherethe CCD image sensor chips 422, 422, . . . are arrayed in a zigzagpattern such that adjacent CCD image sensor chips 422, 422 partlyoverlap each other, the compensation for pixel shift becomes more easyby the utilization of data at the overlapping portions.

[0485] In cases where a plurality of CCD image sensor chips are arrayedalong the major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X), the arrayingshould preferably be performed such that no insensible zone may occur atjoints. If such arraying is difficult to perform, processing forcompensation for the insensible zone should preferably be performed onthe image signal such that the joints may be connected smoothly in thereproduced image.

[0486] The technique for arraying a plurality of the CCD image sensorchips along the major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X) suchthat they may have a total length corresponding to the width of thestimulable phosphor sheet is also applicable when an amorphous siliconsensor or a MOS image sensor is utilized as the line sensor.

[0487] As will be described later, the stimulable phosphor sheet may bea stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, whichstores two radiation images of a single object formed with radiationhaving different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheetbeing capable of emitting light, which carries information of one of thetwo radiation images, from a front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from a back surface.Also, two line sensors may be utilized, each of which is located on oneof the front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet,the two line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is madeup of a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet. Further, the apparatus may be provided with readingmeans for performing a subtraction process on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet. In such cases, as each of the two line sensors locatedon opposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, a linesensor, which is constituted in the manner described above by arrayingplurality of the sensor chips along the length direction of the lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet such that they may have a totallength corresponding to the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet, maybe utilized.

[0488] As the stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtractionprocessing, it is possible to employ an anisotropic stimulable phosphorsheet, such as a stimulable phosphor sheet, wherein the light emissionregion of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulatingray reflecting partition member, which extends in the thicknessdirection of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of finecells.

[0489] An embodiment of the second radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention will be described hereinbelow.

[0490]FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the secondradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 11B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 11A.FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a line sensor in the embodimentof FIG. 11A.

[0491] With reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises the scanning belt 40 for supporting the sheet 50, onwhich a radiation image has been stored, and conveying the sheet 50 inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The radiation image read-outapparatus also comprises a broad area semiconductor laser (hereinbelowreferred to as the BLD) 11 for radiating out a linear laser beam Lhaving a linear pattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm andhaving wavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm. Thelaser beam L is radiated out approximately in parallel with the frontsurface of the sheet 50. The radiation image read-out apparatus furthercomprises the optical system 12, which is constituted of a combinationof a collimator lens for collimating the linear laser beam L having beenradiated out of the BLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam onlyin one direction. The radiation image read-out apparatus still furthercomprises the dichroic mirror 14, which is located at an angle of 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 50 and which isset so as to reflect the laser beam L and to transmit emitted light Mdescribed later. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprisesthe first SELFOC lens array 15. The first SELFOC lens array 15 convergesthe linear laser beam L, which has been reflected from the dichroicmirror 14, into a linear beam (having a line width of approximately 100μm) extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X on the sheet50. Also, the first SELFOC lens array 15 collimates the emitted M, whichis emitted by the sheet 50 exposed to the linear laser beam L and whichcarries image information of the radiation image stored on the sheet 50.The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the secondSELFOC lens array 16 for converging the emitted light M, which has beencollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15 and has then passed throughthe dichroic mirror 14, onto light receiving surfaces of photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting a line sensor 120, whichwill be described later. The radiation image read-out apparatus stillfurther comprises the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 for transmittingonly the emitted light M and filtering out the laser beam L, which hasbeen reflected from the front surface of the sheet 50 and which is mixedslightly in the emitted light M having passed through the second SELFOClens array 16. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises theline sensor 120, which is constituted of a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emitted light Mhaving passed through the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and forphotoelectrically converting the emitted light M. The radiation imageread-out apparatus further comprises image information reading means130. The image information reading means 130 reads outputs of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the linesensor 120 and feeds out an image signal, which is made up of theoutputs, into an image processing unit, or the like.

[0492] The first SELFOC lens array 15 acts such that an image of theemission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 50 is formed inone-to-one size relationship on the image surface at the dichroic mirror14. The second SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of theemitted light M on the dichroic mirror 14 is formed in one-to-one sizerelationship on the image surface at the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . The optical system 12,which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens, expandsthe laser beam L, which comes from the BLD 11, into a desiredirradiation area on the dichroic mirror 14.

[0493] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the line sensor 120 comprises aplurality of (e.g., at least 1,000 pieces of) photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . arrayed along the direction indicated by thedouble-headed arrow X. Each of the photoelectric conversion devices 21,21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 has the light receivingsurface having a size of approximately 100 μm×100 μm. The size of eachlight receiving surface is the size capable of receiving the emittedlight M occurring from part having a size of approximately 100 μm×100 μmon the surface of the sheet 50. As the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . , amorphous silicon sensors, CCD image sensors, MOS imagesensors, or the like, may be employed.

[0494] How this embodiment of the second radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0495] Firstly, the scanning belt 40 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow Y, and the sheet 50, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported on the scanning belt 40, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 50 is equal to the movement speed of the scanning belt 40.Information representing the movement speed of the scanning belt 40 isfed into the image information reading means 130.

[0496] The BLD 11 radiates out the laser beam L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The laser beam L is radiatedout approximately in parallel with the front surface of the sheet 50.The laser beam L is collimated by the optical system 12, which isconstituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and is located inthe optical path of the laser beam L. The collimated laser beam L isreflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to the direction that impingesperpendicularly upon the front surface of the sheet 50. The reflectedlaser beam L is converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into alinear beam (having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm)extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X on the sheet 50.

[0497] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 50 is coherent lightand is advantageous over the fluorescence produced by a fluorescent lampand light radiated out from an LED array in that the directivity of thestimulating rays is high, the intensity of the stimulating rays is high,and therefore high stimulation energy can be imparted to the stimulablephosphor sheet. Accordingly, the laser beam L can sufficiently stimulatethe stimulable phosphor at the exposed area (having a line width d_(L)of approximately 100 μm). As a result, the light M of high intensitycarrying the image information stored on the sheet 50 is emitted by thestimulable phosphor at the exposed area.

[0498] The light M emitted by the sheet 50 is collimated by the firstSELFOC lens array 15, passes through the dichroic mirror 14, and isconverged by the second SELFOC lens array 16 onto each of the lightreceiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 120. At this time, the laser beam L, whichhas been reflected from the front surface of the sheet 50 and is mixedslightly in the emitted light M having passed through the second SELFOClens array 16, is filtered out by the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0499] The emitted light M having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q, Q, . . . The signal components Q, Q,. . . are fed into the image information reading means 130 and fed outinto the image processing unit, or the like, such that it may be clearwhich signal component Q corresponds to which position on the sheet 50corresponding to the amount of displacement of the scanning belt 40.

[0500] An image signal S made up of the signal components Q, Q, . . . isthe one obtained from the emitted light M caused to occur by beingstimulated by the laser beam L having high stimulation energy.Therefore, an image having a higher signal-to-noise ratio can beobtained than with an image signal obtained from the fluorescenceproduced by a fluorescent lamp or light radiated out from an LED array.

[0501] The apparatus may further comprises monitoring means 65 (shown inFIG. 11A) for monitoring the intensity of the laser beam L radiated outof the BLD 11, and BLD modulating means 75 for modulating the BLD 11 inaccordance with the results of the monitoring with the monitoring means65 such that the power of the BLD 11 may become equal to a predeterminedvalue. When fluctuation in intensity of the laser beam L radiated out ofthe BLD 11 is detected, the BLD 11 may be modulated by the BLDmodulating means 75 such that the intensity of the laser beam L maybecome equal to a predetermined value.

[0502] Different embodiments of the second radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention may be constituted inthe same manner as that in the embodiments of the first radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, which aredescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B through FIG. 9.

[0503] In such different embodiments of the second radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the laserbeam L impinging upon the sheet 50 is coherent light and is advantageousover the fluorescence produced by a fluorescent lamp and light radiatedout from an LED array in that the directivity of the stimulating rays ishigh, the intensity of the stimulating rays is high, and therefore highstimulation energy can be imparted to the stimulable phosphor sheet.Accordingly, the laser beam L can sufficiently stimulate the stimulablephosphor at the exposed area (having a line width d_(L) of approximately100 μm). As a result, the light M of high intensity carrying the imageinformation stored on the sheet 50 is emitted by the stimulable phosphorat the exposed area.

[0504] As described above, in such different embodiments of the secondradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the image signal S made up of the signal components Q, Q, . .. is the one obtained from the emitted light M caused to occur by beingstimulated by the laser beam L having high stimulation energy.Therefore, an image having a higher signal-to-noise ratio can beobtained than with an image signal obtained from the fluorescenceproduced by a fluorescent lamp or light radiated out from an LED array.

[0505] The embodiment of the second radiation image read-out apparatusin accordance with the present invention, which is described above withreference to FIGS. 11A, 11B and FIG. 12, embraces an embodiment of thethird radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0506] The embodiment of the third radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention may be modified such that, asillustrated in FIG. 14, in lieu of the first SELFOC lens array 15 andthe second SELFOC lens array 16 shown in FIG. 11B, a single SELFOC lensarray 16′ may be employed. The SELFOC lens array 16′ acts such that animage of the emission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 50 isformed in one-to-one size relationship on the light receiving surfacesof the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .

[0507] The optical system 12, which is constituted of the collimatorlens and the toric lens, expands the laser beam L, which come from theBLD 11, into a desired irradiation area on the dichroic mirror (hotmirror) 14. The optical system 12 is not limited to the combination ofthe collimator lens and the toric lens and may be constituted of acylindrical lens, or the like, or one of other combinations, which canexpand the laser beam L into a desired irradiation area on the hotmirror 14.

[0508] The hot mirror 14 acts as the stimulating ray guiding means forguiding the laser beam L, which serves as the stimulating rays, to thesheet 50, and as the emitted light guiding means for guiding the emittedlight M to the line sensor 120. The hot mirror 14 is located such thatthe optical path of the laser beam L having been reflected by the hotmirror 14 and the optical path of the emitted light M overlap eachother.

[0509] As described above, in the embodiments of the third radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, thehot mirror 14 and the first SELFOC lens array 15 are located such thatpart of the optical path of the laser beam L and part of the opticalpath of the emitted light M overlap each other. Therefore, the spacesoccupied by the laser beam L and the emitted light M can be reduced, andthe size of the apparatus can be kept smaller than a conventionalradiation image read-out apparatus wherein the optical path of the laserbeam L and the optical path of the emitted light M do not overlap eachother.

[0510] Embodiments of the fourth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention are constituted in the same manneras that described above with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B through FIGS. 7A,7B.

[0511] In such cases, the dichroic mirror (hot mirror) 14 shown in FIG.1B acts as the stimulating ray guiding means for guiding the laser beamL, which serves as the stimulating rays, to the sheet 50, and as theemitted light guiding means for guiding the emitted light M to the linesensor 20. The hot mirror 14 is located such that the optical path ofthe laser beam L having been reflected by the hot mirror 14 and theoptical path of the emitted light M overlap each other.

[0512] As described above, in the embodiments of the fourth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, thehot mirror 14 and the first SELFOC lens array 15 are located such thatpart of the optical path of the laser beam L and part of the opticalpath of the emitted light M overlap each other. Therefore, the spacesoccupied by the laser beam L and the emitted light M can be reduced, andthe size of the apparatus can be kept smaller than the conventionalradiation image read-out apparatus wherein the optical path of the laserbeam L and the optical path of the emitted light M do not overlap eachother.

[0513] In the aforesaid embodiments of the third and fourth radiationimage read-out apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, thehot mirror is utilized such that part of the optical path of the laserbeam L and part of the optical path of the emitted light M overlap eachother. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 13, a cold mirror 14′ fortransmitting only the laser beam L and reflecting the emitted light Mmay be utilized such that part of the optical path of the laser beam Land part of the optical path of the emitted light M overlap each other.

[0514] Specifically, the radiation image lead-out apparatus illustratedin FIG. 13 comprises the scanning belt 40, and the BLD 11 for radiatingout a linear laser beam L in the direction approximately normal to thefront surface of the sheet 50. The radiation image read-out apparatusalso comprises the optical system 12, which is constituted of acombination of a collimator lens for collimating the linear laser beam Lhaving been radiated out of the BLD 11 and a toric lens for expandingthe beam only in one direction, and which causes the linear laser beam Lto impinge upon the front surface of the sheet 50. The radiation imageread-out apparatus further comprises the cold mirror 14′, which islocated at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the front surface ofthe sheet 50 and which is set so as to transmit the laser beam L and toreflect emitted light M. The radiation image read-out apparatus stillfurther comprises the first SELFOC lens array 15. The first SELFOC lensarray 15 converges the linear laser beam L, which has passed through thecold mirror 14′, into a linear beam (having a line width ofapproximately 100 μm) extending along the direction indicated by thearrow X on the sheet 50. Also, the first SELFOC lens array 15 collimatesthe emitted M, which is emitted by the sheet 50 exposed to the linearlaser beam L and which carries image information of the radiation imagestored on the sheet 50. The radiation image read-out apparatus alsocomprises the second SELFOC lens array 16 for converging the emittedlight M, which has been collimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15 andhas then been reflected from the cold mirror 14′, onto the lightreceiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 120. The radiation image read-out apparatusfurther comprises the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 for transmittingonly the emitted light M and filtering out the laser beam L, which hasbeen reflected from the front surface of the sheet 50 and which is mixedslightly in the emitted light M having passed through the second SELFOClens array 16. The radiation image read-out apparatus still furthercomprises the line sensor 120, which is constituted of the plurality ofthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . for receiving theemitted light M having passed through the stimulating ray cut-off filter17 and for photoelectrically converting the emitted light M. Theradiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the image informationreading means 130. The image information reading means 130 reads outputsof the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting theline sensor 120 and feeds out an image signal, which is made up of theoutputs, into an image processing unit, or the like.

[0515] The third and fourth radiation image read-out apparatuses inaccordance with the present invention are not limited to the embodimentsutilizing the hot mirror or the cold mirror described above, and may beembodied in various other ways such that part of the optical path of thelaser beam L and part of the optical path of the emitted light M overlapeach other.

[0516] Embodiments of the fifth and sixth radiation image read-outapparatuses in accordance with the present invention will be describedhereinbelow.

[0517]FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the fifthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 15B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 15A.FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a line sensor in the embodimentof FIG. 15A. FIG. 17A is a perspective view showing a stimulablephosphor sheet in the embodiment of FIG. 15A. FIGS. 17B and 17C aresectional views showing examples of structures of the stimulablephosphor sheet shown in FIG. 17A.

[0518] With reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises the scanning belt 40 for supporting a stimulablephosphor sheet (hereinbelow referred to simply as the sheet) 150, onwhich a radiation image has been stored, and conveying the sheet 150 inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The radiation image read-outapparatus also comprises the broad area laser (hereinbelow referred toas the BLD) 11 for radiating out secondary stimulating rays (hereinbelowreferred to simply as the stimulating rays) L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The stimulating rays L areradiated out approximately in parallel with the front surface of thesheet 150. The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises theoptical system 12, which is constituted of a combination of a collimatorlens for collimating the linear stimulating rays L having been radiatedout of the BLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam only in onedirection. The radiation image read-out apparatus still furthercomprises the dichroic mirror 14, which is located at an angle of 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 150 and which isset so as to reflect the stimulating rays L and to transmit emittedlight M described later. The radiation image read-out apparatus alsocomprises the first SELFOC lens array 15. The first SELFOC lens array 15converges the linear stimulating rays L, which have been reflected fromthe dichroic mirror 14, into a linear beam (having a line width ofapproximately 100 μm) extending along the direction indicated by thearrow X on the sheet 150. Also, the first SELFOC lens array 15collimates the emitted M, which is emitted by the sheet 150 exposed tothe linear stimulating rays L and which carries image information of theradiation image stored on the sheet 150. The radiation image read-outapparatus further comprises the second SELFOC lens array 16 forconverging the emitted light M, which has been collimated by the firstSELFOC lens array 15 and has then passed through the dichroic mirror 14,onto the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. The radiationimage read-out apparatus still further comprises the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 for transmitting only the emitted light M andfiltering out the stimulating rays L, which have been reflected from thefront surface of the sheet 150 and which are mixed slightly in theemitted light M having passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16.The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the line sensor120, which is constituted of a plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emitted light M having passedthrough the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and for photoelectricallyconverting the emitted light M. The radiation image read-out apparatusfurther comprises the image information reading means 130 for readingoutputs of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 120.

[0519] The first SELFOC lens array 15 acts such that an image of theemission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 150 is formed inone-to-one size relationship on the image surface at the dichroic mirror14. The second SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of theemitted light M on the dichroic mirror 14 is formed in one-to-one sizerelationship on the image surface at the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion device s 21, 21, . . .

[0520] The optical system 12, which is constituted of the collimatorlens and the toric lens, expands the stimulating rays L, which come fromthe BLD 11, into a desired irradiation area on the dichroic mirror 14.

[0521] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the line sensor 120 comprises aplurality of (e.g., at least 1,000 pieces of) photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . arrayed in one row along the direction indicatedby the double-headed arrow X. Each of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 has the lightreceiving surface having a size of approximately 100 μm (=d_(P)) (in thedirection indicated by the arrow Y)×100 μm (in the direction indicatedby the arrow X). The size of each light receiving surface is the sizecapable of receiving the emitted light M occurring from part having asize of approximately 100 μm×100 μm on the surface of the sheet 150. Asthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . , amorphous siliconsensors, CCD image sensors, MOS image sensors, or the like, may beemployed.

[0522] The sheet 150 is partly shown in FIG. 17A. As illustrated in FIG.17B (or as shown in the sectional view of a sheet 160 in FIG. 17C), thesheet 150 or 160 comprises a substrate layer 52 and a stimulablephosphor layer 54 overlaid on the substrate layer 52. A stimulablephosphor material 53 in the stimulable phosphor layer 54 is partitionedby a stimulating ray reflecting partition member 51, which extends inthe thickness direction of the sheet 150, into a plurality of fine cellsC, C, . . . (The stimulable phosphor sheet having such a structure isreferred to as the anisotropic sheet.) As illustrated in FIG. 17B, eachfine cell C other than its front surface is surrounded by thestimulating ray reflecting partition member 51 and the substrate layer52. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 17C, each fine cell C otherthan its front surface is surrounded by only the stimulating rayreflecting partition member 51. In this embodiment, the sheet 150 havingthe structure shown in FIG. 17B is employed.

[0523] Each fine cell C of the sheet 150 has an approximately squareshape having a size of approximately 100 μm (in the direction indicatedby the arrow X)×100 μm (in the direction indicated by the arrow Y). Thestimulating ray reflecting partition member 51 is constituted of amaterial capable of reflecting the stimulating rays L and suppressingthe passage of the stimulating rays L therethrough. The stimulating rayreflecting partition member 51 suppresses the scattering of thestimulating rays L to the direction in which the surface of the sheet150 extends.

[0524] How this embodiment of the fifth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0525] Firstly, the scanning belt 40 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow Y, and the sheet 150, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported on the scanning belt 40, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 150 is equal to the movement speed of the scanning belt 40.Information representing the movement speed of the scanning belt 40 isfed into the image information reading means 130.

[0526] The BLD 11 radiates out the stimulating rays L having a linearpattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm. The stimulating raysL are radiated out approximately in parallel with the front surface ofthe sheet 150. The stimulating rays L are collimated by the opticalsystem 12, which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toriclens and is located in the optical path of the stimulating rays L. Thecollimated stimulating rays L are reflected from the dichroic mirror 14to the direction that impinges perpendicularly upon the front surface ofthe sheet 150. As illustrated in FIG. 18A, the reflected stimulatingrays L are converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into a linearbeam (having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm) extending alongthe direction indicated by the arrow X on the sheet 150. At this time,the line width d_(L) of the stimulating rays L on the surface of thesheet 150 is equal to approximately 100 μm, and therefore thestimulating rays L stimulate only the linear area of approximately onerow of the fine cells C, C, . . . of the sheet 150 (the size d_(C) ofthe linear area in the direction indicated by the arrow Y is equal toapproximately 100 μm).

[0527] The linear stimulating rays L impinging upon the fine cells C, C,. . . of the sheet 150 are scattered in the stimulable phosphor layer54. However, the stimulating rays L are reflected by the stimulating rayreflecting partition member 51, which defines the fine cells C, C, . . .Therefore, the stimulating rays L are scattered within only the finecells C, C, . . . upon which the stimulating rays L impinge. As aresult, the stimulating rays L stimulate the stimulable phosphormaterial 53 in only the fine cells C, C, . . . upon which thestimulating rays L impinge. The stimulated stimulable phosphor material53 emits the light M carrying the image information stored on the sheet150. Since the stimulable phosphor material 53 is partitioned by thestimulating ray reflecting partition member 51 into the fine cells C, C,. . . , the emitted light M having a beam width d_(M) approximatelyequal to the width d_(C) of each fine cell C emanates from the sheet150. The emitted light M emanating at this time has an intensitydistribution indicated by the solid line in FIG. 18B (the width ofdistribution d_(M) is approximately equal to the width d_(C)). In FIG.18B, the broken line indicates the intensity distribution (having awidth of distribution d_(M0)) of the light emitted under the sameconditions from an ordinary sheet having no stimulating ray reflectingpartition member. As illustrated in FIG. 18B, the intensity distributionof the light M emitted by the sheet 150 is narrower than that of thelight emitted by the ordinary sheet having no stimulating ray reflectingpartition member.

[0528] The light M emitted by the sheet 150 is collimated by the firstSELFOC lens array 15, passes through the dichroic mirror 14, and isconverged by the second SELFOC lens array 16 onto each of the lightreceiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 120. At this time, the laser beam L, whichhas been reflected from the front surface of the sheet 150 and is mixedslightly in the emitted light M having passed through the second SELFOClens array 16, is filtered out by the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0529] In this embodiment, the beam width of the emitted light M on thelight receiving surface of the line sensor 120 is set to be equal to thebeam width d_(M) on the front surface of the sheet 150. Therefore, allof the emitted light M impinges upon the respective photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . (having a width d_(P) of approximately100 μm). The photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .photoelectrically convert the emitted light M and feed the thus obtainedsignal components Q, Q, . . . into the image information reading means130.

[0530] The image information reading means 130 feeds out the signalcomponents Q, Q, . . . into the external image processing unit, or thelike, such that it may be clear which signal component Q corresponds towhich site on the sheet 150 in accordance with the movement speed of thescanning belt 40.

[0531] The operation described above is iterated for the respectivescanning positions of the sheet 150. In this manner, the radiation imagestored on the sheet 150 can be read out as an image signal.

[0532] As described above, with this embodiment of the fifth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention,wherein the light emission region (i.e., the stimulable phosphormaterial 53) of the sheet 150 is partitioned by the stimulating rayreflecting partition member 51 into the plurality of the fine cells C,C, . . . , the stimulating rays L impinging upon the predetermined area(the linear area) of the sheet 150 can be prevented from scatteringboundlessly beyond the fine cells C, C, . . . in the sheet 150.Therefore, the light M is emitted from only the line width area (havingthe line width d_(M)) approximately identical with the linear area(having the line width d_(L)) upon which the stimulating rays L impinge.Accordingly, the light collecting efficiency of the line sensor 120 canbe enhanced without the desired resolution becoming low. Also, theemitted light M occurs in units of fine cells C, C, . . . , andtherefore the sharpness of the image reproduced from an image signalhaving been obtained from the photoelectric conversion can be enhanced.In this manner, a radiation image can be obtained, which has good imagequality and can serve as an effective tool in, particularly, theefficient and accurate diagnosis of an illness.

[0533] In this embodiment of the fifth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, the beam width d_(L)of the stimulating rays L for stimulating the stimulable phosphormaterial 53 of the sheet 150 is smaller than the width d_(C) of eachfine cell C. In cases where the beam width d_(L) of the stimulating raysL is larger than the width d_(C) of each fine cell C (e.g., in caseswhere, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the stimulating rays L are irradiatedsimultaneously to the area of three rows of the fine cells C, C, . . .), as illustrated in FIG. 20, the line sensor 20 may be employed, whichcomprises three rows 20A, 20B, and 20C of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . The rows 20A, 20B, and 20C of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . extend in the direction indicated bythe arrow X (shown in FIG. 16) and stand side by side along theconveyance direction (indicated by the arrow Y) of the sheet 150. Also,the image information reading means 30 may be employed, which isprovided with the addition means 31 for performing addition processingon the outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . ,which outputs have been obtained at respective positions of movement ofthe sheet 150 performed by the scanning belt 40 and correspond to anidentical site (in this case, an identical fine cell C) on the sheet150. Such an embodiment constitutes an embodiment of the sixth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

[0534] How the embodiment of the sixth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22.

[0535] Firstly, as illustrated in FIG. 21A, in cases where thestimulating rays L are converged onto fine cells C1 and C2 at theleading end of the sheet 150, as viewed in the conveyance direction ofthe sheet 150 (indicated by the arrow Y), the light M having theintensity distribution shown in FIG. 21A is emitted. The light quantityof the light M emitted from the fine cell C1 is equal to Q1. The emittedlight M of the light quantity Q1 is received by a photoelectricconversion device 21, which belongs to a photoelectric conversion devicerow 20B shown in FIG. 20 and which corresponds to the fine cell C1 ofthe sheet 150. The light quantity of the light M emitted from the finecell C2 of the sheet 150 is equal to Q2. The emitted light M of thelight quantity Q2 is received by a photoelectric conversion device 21,which belongs to a photoelectric conversion device row 20C and whichcorresponds to the fine cell C2 of the sheet 150.

[0536] The photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20Bphotoelectrically converts the emitted light M of the light quantity Q1into an electric charge Q′1 and transfers the electric charge Q′1 intothe addition means 31. As illustrated in FIG. 22, in accordance with thescanning speed of the scanning belt 40, the addition means 31 storesinformation representing the electric charge Q′1, which has beenreceived from the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20B, ina memory region (in the addition means 31) corresponding to the finecell C1 of the sheet 150. Also, the photoelectric conversion device 21of the row 20C photoelectrically converts the emitted light M of thelight quantity Q2 into an electric charge Q′2 and transfers the electriccharge Q′2 into the addition means 31. The addition means 31 stores theinformation representing the electric charge Q′2 in a memory regioncorresponding to the fine cell C2 of the sheet 150.

[0537] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 21B, the sheet 150 isconveyed, and the stimulating rays L are irradiated onto the fine cellsC1, C2, and C3 of the sheet 150. In this state, as described above, thelight M is emitted from the fine cells C1, C2, and C3 of the sheet 150.The light M of a light quantity Q3 is emitted from the fine cell C1, thelight M of a light quantity Q4 is emitted from the fine cell C2, and thelight M of a light quantity Q5 is emitted from the fine cell C3. Theemitted light M is received by the corresponding photoelectricconversion device 21 of the row 20A, the corresponding photoelectricconversion device 21 of the row 20B, and the corresponding photoelectricconversion device 21 of the row 20C.

[0538] The photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20A, thephotoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20B, and the photoelectricconversion device 21 of the row 20C convert the emitted light M intoelectric charges Q′3, Q′4, and Q′5 and transfer them into the additionmeans 31.

[0539] In accordance with the scanning speed of the scanning belt 40,the addition means 31 stores pieces of information representing theelectric charges Q′3, Q′4, and Q′5, which have been receivedrespectively from the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20A,the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 2DB, and thephotoelectric conversion device 21 of the row 20C, in memory regions (inthe addition means 31) corresponding to the fine cells C1, C2, and C3 ofthe sheet 150. In the memory region corresponding to the fine cell C1,the value of the electric charge Q′3 is added to the previously storedvalue of the electric charge Q′1. Also, in the memory regioncorresponding to the fine cell C2, the value of the electric charge Q′4is added to the previously stored value of the electric charge Q′2.

[0540] As illustrated in FIG. 21C, the sheet 150 is then conveyed, andthe stimulating rays L are irradiated onto the fine cells C2, C3, and C4of the sheet 150. In this state, in the same manner as that describedabove, pieces of information representing electric charges Q′6, Q′7, andQ′8, which have been received respectively from the photoelectricconversion device 21 of the row 20A, the photoelectric conversion device21 of the row 20B, and the photoelectric conversion device 21 of the row20C, are stored in the memory regions corresponding to the fine cellsC2, C3, and C4 of the sheet 150 and added to the previous stored values.

[0541] The operation described above is iterated at respective positionsof conveyance of the sheet 150. In this manner, as illustrated in FIG.22, the total sum of the emitted light M having been received at therespective positions of conveyance of the sheet 150 is stored in thememory region of the addition means 31 corresponding to each site on thesheet 150.

[0542] The image signal having thus been stored in the memory is fedfrom the image information reading means 30 into an external imageprocessing unit, or the like, and utilized for reproducing a visibleimage for diagnosis, or the like.

[0543] As described above, with the embodiment of the sixth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, incases where the beam width d_(L) of the stimulating rays L is largerthan the width d_(C) of each fine cell, all of the light M emitted fromthe fine cells C, C, . . . adjacent to one another in the line widthdirection can be collected, and the light collecting efficiency can beenhanced.

[0544] The utilization of the line sensor 20 comprising the plurality ofrows of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . is notlimited to the cases where the beam width d_(L) of the stimulating raysL is larger than the width d_(C) of each fine cell. As illustrated inFIG. 23, in cases where the beam width d_(L) of the stimulating rays Lis smaller than the width d_(C) of each fine cell, the emitted light Moccurring with a beam width d_(M) approximately equal to the width d_(C)of a fine cell C by being stimulated by the stimulating rays Lscattering in the fine cell C can be photoelectrically detected by theline sensor 20, which comprises the rows of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . each having a width (d_(P)<d_(M)) smaller than thebeam width d_(M) of the emitted light M. In this manner, the resolutioncan be kept high, and the light collecting efficiency can be enhanced.

[0545] As illustrated in FIG. 20, the line sensor 20 employed in thisembodiment of the sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention comprises the plurality of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . arrayed in the matrix-like pattern suchthat they may stand in a straight line along each of the lengthdirection (i.e., the major axis direction) of the line sensor 20 and thedirection (i.e., the minor axis direction) normal to the major axisdirection. However, the line sensor employed in the sixth radiationimage read-out apparatus is not limited to the constitution shown inFIG. 20. For example, as in the line sensor 80 illustrated in FIG. 7A,the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . may be arrayed suchthat they may stand in a straight line along the major axis direction(indicated by the double-headed arrow X) and in a zigzag pattern alongthe minor axis direction (indicated by the arrow Y). As anotheralternative, as in the line sensor 90 illustrated in FIG. 7B, thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . may be arrayed such thatthey may stand in a straight line along the minor axis direction and ina zigzag pattern along the major axis direction.

[0546] Also, in lieu of the addition means, one of other kinds ofoperation means may be provided. Also, simple addition processing,weighted addition processing, or one of various other kinds of operationprocessing may be employed.

[0547] The fifth and sixth radiation image read-out apparatuses inaccordance with the present invention are not limited to the embodimentsdescribed above and may be embodied in various other ways. For example,various known constitutions may be employed as the light source, thelight guiding optical system between the light source and the sheet, theoptical systems between the sheet and the line sensor, the line sensor,or the addition means. Also, the radiation image read-out apparatus mayfurther comprise an image processing unit, which performs various kindsof signal processing on the image signal obtained from the imageinformation reading means, and/or erasing means for appropriatelyreleasing radiation energy remaining on the sheet from which the imagesignal has been detected.

[0548] Also, in the aforesaid embodiments of the fifth and sixthradiation image read-out apparatuses in accordance with the presentinvention, part of the optical path of the stimulating rays L and partof the optical path of the emitted light M overlap each other, and thesize of the apparatus is thereby reduced. Alternatively, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 24, the sixth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention may be constituted such that theoptical path of the stimulating rays L and the optical path of theemitted light M may not overlap each other. The apparatus shown in FIG.24 has basically the same constitution as that of the apparatus shown inFIG. 8.

[0549] How the embodiment of the sixth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, which is shown inFIG. 24, operates will be described hereinbelow.

[0550] Firstly, the scanning belt 40 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow Y, and the sheet 150, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported on the scanning belt 40, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 150 is equal to the movement speed of the scanning belt 40.Information representing the movement speed of the scanning belt 40 isfed into the addition means 31.

[0551] The BLD 11 radiates out the stimulating rays L having a linearpattern. The stimulating rays L are radiated out at an angle ofapproximately 45 degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet150. The stimulating rays L are collimated by the optical system 12,which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and islocated in the optical path of the stimulating rays L. The collimatedstimulating rays L impinge upon the front surface of the sheet 150 at anangle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the front surface ofthe sheet 150. At this time, the stimulating rays L impinge upon thelinear area on the front surface of the sheet 150, which linear areaextends in the direction indicated by the arrow X.

[0552] The light M is emitted from the linear area exposed to thestimulating rays L, or from the exposed linear area and the neighboringareas (in cases where the width of the exposed linear area is smallerthan the width of each fine cell C). The emitted light M passes throughthe stimulating ray cut-off filter 17, which filters out the stimulatingrays L mixed in the emitted light M. The emitted light M then impingesupon the SELFOC lens array 16 and is converged onto each of the lightreceiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20.

[0553] The operation performed after the emitted light M is received bythe line sensor 20 is the same as that in the aforesaid embodiment ofthe sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0554]FIG. 24 shows the embodiment of the sixth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the linesensor 20 comprises a plurality of rows of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . and the addition means 31 is utilized. Theconstitution shown in FIG. 24 is also applicable to the fifth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention,wherein the line sensor 120 comprises only one row of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . and the addition means 31 is notprovided.

[0555] As described above, with the embodiment of the sixth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention havingthe constitution shown in FIG. 24, wherein the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . each having a light receiving width d_(P) (<d_(M))shorter than the line width d_(M) of the emitted light M (i.e., the linewidth on the light receiving surface of each photoelectric conversiondevice) are employed, a desired level of resolution can be obtained, andthe line sensor 20 as a whole can receive the emitted light M overapproximately the entire line width of the emitted light. Therefore, thelight receiving efficiency can be enhanced. Also, the addition means 31performs the addition processing on the outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20, whichoutputs have been obtained at respective positions of sheet movementperformed by the scanning belt 40 and which outputs correspond to anidentical site on the sheet 150. Accordingly, the light collectingefficiency at each site on the sheet 150 can be enhanced.

[0556] In the aforesaid embodiments of the fifth and sixth radiationimage read-out apparatuses in accordance with the present invention, thelight source for producing the stimulating rays L and the line sensorare located on the same surface side of the sheet 150, and the emittedlight M emanating from the surface of the sheet 150, upon which thestimulating rays L impinge, is received by the line sensor 20. However,the fifth and sixth radiation image read-out apparatuses in accordancewith the present invention are not limited to the aforesaid embodiments.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 25, a stimulable phosphor sheet 150′whose substrate is formed from a material permeable to the emitted lightM (e.g., the sheet having the same structure as that shown in FIG. 17B)may be employed, and the light source for producing the stimulating raysL and the line sensor may be located on opposite surface sides of thesheet 150′. In this manner, the emitted light M emanating from thesurface opposite to the surface of the sheet 150′, upon which thestimulating rays L impinge, may be received by the line sensor 20. Theapparatus shown in FIG. 25 has basically the same constitution as thatof the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

[0557] How the embodiment of the sixth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, which is shown inFIG. 25, operates will be described hereinbelow.

[0558] Firstly, the conveyor belt 40′ moves in the direction indicatedby the arrow Y, and the sheet 150′, on which the radiation image hasbeen stored and which is supported by the conveyor belt 40′, is conveyedin the direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 150′ is equal to the movement speed of the conveyor belt 40′.Information representing the movement speed of the conveyor belt 40′ isfed into the addition means 31.

[0559] The BLD 11 radiates out the stimulating rays L having a linearpattern. The stimulating rays L are radiated out in the directionapproximately normal to the front surface of the sheet 150′. Thestimulating rays L are collimated by the optical system 12, which isconstituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and is located inthe optical path of the stimulating rays L. The collimated stimulatingrays L impinge upon the front surface of the sheet 150′ from thedirection approximately normal to the front surface of the sheet 150′.At this time, the stimulating rays L impinge upon the linear area on thefront surface of the sheet 150′, which linear area extends in thedirection indicated by the arrow X.

[0560] The light M is emitted from the linear area exposed to thestimulating rays L, or from the exposed linear area and the neighboringareas (in cases where the width of the exposed linear area is smallerthan the width of each fine cell C). At the same time, the emitted lightM′ having passed through the transparent substrate of the sheet 150′emanates from a linear area of the back surface of the sheet 150′.

[0561] The emitted light M′, which emanates from the linear area of theback surface of the sheet 150′, passes through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17, which filters out the stimulating rays L mixed in theemitted light M′. The emitted light M′ then impinges upon the SELFOClens array 16 and is converged onto each of the light receiving surfacesof the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting theline sensor 20.

[0562] The operation performed after the emitted light M′ is received bythe line sensor 20 is the same as that in the aforesaid embodiment ofthe sixth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0563]FIG. 25 shows the embodiment of the sixth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the linesensor 20 comprises a plurality of rows of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . and the addition means 31 is utilized. Theconstitution shown in FIG. 24 is also applicable to the fifth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention,wherein the line sensor 120 comprises only one row of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21. . . . and the addition means 31 is notprovided.

[0564] As described above, with the embodiment of the sixth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention havingthe constitution shown in FIG. 25, wherein the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . each having a light receiving width d_(P) (<d_(M))shorter than the line width d_(M) of the emitted light M (i.e., the linewidth on the light receiving surface of each photoelectric conversiondevice) are employed, a desired level of resolution can be obtained, andthe line sensor 20 as a whole can receive the emitted light M overapproximately the entire line width of the emitted light. Therefore, thelight receiving efficiency can be enhanced. Also, the addition means 31performs the addition processing on the outputs of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20, whichoutputs have been obtained at respective positions of sheet movementperformed by the conveyor belt 40′ and which outputs correspond to anidentical site on the sheet 150′. Accordingly, the light collectingefficiency at each site on the sheet 150′ can be enhanced.

[0565] Embodiments of the seventh, eighth, and ninth radiation imageread-out apparatuses in accordance with the present invention will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0566]FIG. 26A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of theseventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention. FIG. 26B is a sectional view taken on line I-I ofFIG. 26A.

[0567] With reference to FIGS. 26A and 26B, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises conveyor belts 40A and 40B for supporting astimulable phosphor sheet (hereinbelow referred to simply as the sheet)50′, on which a radiation image has been stored, and conveying the sheet50′ in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. The radiation imageread-out apparatus also comprises the broad area semiconductor laser(hereinbelow referred to as the BLD) 11 for radiating out a linear laserbeam L having a linear pattern with a line width of approximately 100 μmand having wavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm. Thelaser beam L is radiated out approximately in parallel with the frontsurface of the sheet 50′. The radiation image read-out apparatus furthercomprises the optical system 12, which is constituted of a combinationof a collimator lens for collimating the linear laser beam L having beenradiated out of the BLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam onlyin one direction. The radiation image read-out apparatus still furthercomprises the dichroic mirror 14, which is located at an angle of 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 50′ and which isset so as to reflect the laser beam L and to transmit emitted light Mdescribed later. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprisesthe first SELFOC lens array 15. The first SELFOC lens array 15 convergesthe linear laser beam L, which has been reflected from the dichroicmirror 14, into a linear beam (having a line width of approximately 100μm) extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X (parallel tothe side edge of the sheet 50′) on the sheet 50′. Also, the first SELFOClens array 15 collimates the emitted M, which is emitted from the frontsurface (i.e., the upper surface in FIG. 26A) of the sheet 50′ exposedto the linear laser beam L and which carries image information of theradiation image stored on the sheet 50′. The radiation image read-outapparatus further comprises the second SELFOC lens array 16 forconverging the emitted light M, which has been collimated by the firstSELFOC lens array 15 and has then passed through the dichroic mirror 14,onto light receiving surfaces of photoelectric conversion devices 21,21, . . . constituting a line sensor 120, which will be described later.The radiation image read-out apparatus still further comprises thestimulating ray cut-off filter 17 for transmitting only the emittedlight M and filtering out the laser beam L, which has been reflectedfrom the front surface of the sheet 50′ and which is mixed slightly inthe emitted light M having passed through the second SELFOC lens array16. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the linesensor 120, which is constituted of a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emitted light Mhaving passed through the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and forphotoelectrically converting the emitted light M. The radiation imageread-out apparatus further comprises a stimulating ray cut-off filter17′. The stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′ transmits only the emittedlight M′, which emanates from the back surface (i.e., the lower surfacein FIG. 26A) of the sheet 50′. The stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′filters out the laser beam L, which has passed through the sheet 50′ andemanates slightly from the back surface of the sheet 50′ together withthe emitted light M′. The radiation image read-out apparatus alsocomprises a third SELFOC lens array 16′ for converging the emitted lightM′, which has passed through the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′,onto light receiving surfaces of photoelectric conversion devices 21′,21′, . . . constituting a line sensor 120′, which will be describedlater. The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the linesensor 120′, which is constituted of a plurality of the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . for receiving the emitted light M′having passed through the third SELFOC lens array 16′ and forphotoelectrically converting the emitted light M′. The radiation imageread-out apparatus still further comprises image information readingmeans 130. The image information reading means 130 reads an image signalmade up of signal components (outputs) obtained from the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and animage signal made up of signal components (outputs) obtained from thephotoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . constituting the linesensor 120′. Also, the image information reading means 130 performspredetermined weighted addition processing on signal components of thetwo image signals, which image signal components represent correspondingpixels on the front and back surfaces of the sheet 50′.

[0568] The sheet 50′ employed in the embodiment of the seventh radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a substrate layer and a stimulable phosphor layer overlaid onthe substrate layer. The substrate layer is formed from a materialpermeable to the light emitted by the sheet 50′.

[0569] The first SELFOC lens array 15 acts such that an image of theemission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 50′ is formed inone-to-one size relationship on the image surface at the dichroic mirror14. The second SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of theemitted light M on the dichroic mirror 14 is formed in one-to-one sizerelationship on the image surface at the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . The third SELFOC lensarray 16′ acts such that an image of the emitted light M′ on the backsurface of the sheet 50′ is formed in one-to-one size relationship onthe image surface at the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . of the line sensor 120′.

[0570] As illustrated in FIG. 27, the line sensor 120 and the linesensor 120′ comprise a plurality of (e.g., at least 1,000 pieces of) thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . or the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . arrayed along the direction indicatedby the double-headed arrow X. Each of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 or each of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . constituting the linesensor 120′ has the light receiving surface having a size ofapproximately 100 μm×100 μm. The size of each light receiving surface isthe size capable of receiving the emitted light M occurring from parthaving a size of approximately 100 μm×100 μm on the surface of the sheet50′. As the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . and thephotoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . , amorphous siliconsensors, CCD image sensors, MOS image sensors, or the like, may beemployed.

[0571] How this embodiment of the seventh radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0572] Firstly, the conveyor belts 40A and 40B move in the directionindicated by the arrow Y, and the sheet 50′, on which the radiationimage has been stored and which is supported on the conveyor belts 40Aand 40B, is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Theconveyance speed of the sheet 50′ is equal to the movement speed of theconveyor belts 40A and 40B. Information representing the movement speedof the conveyor belts 40A and 40B is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0573] The BLD 11 radiates out the laser beam L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The laser beam L is radiatedout approximately in parallel with the front surface of the sheet 50′.The laser beam L is collimated by the optical system 12, which isconstituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and is located inthe optical path of the laser beam L. The collimated laser beam L isreflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to the direction that impingesperpendicularly upon the front surface of the sheet 50′. The reflectedlaser beam L is converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into alinear beam (having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm)extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X on the sheet 50′.

[0574] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 50′ stimulates thestimulable phosphor at the exposed area of the sheet 50′. As a result,the light M and the light M′ carrying the image information stored onthe sheet 50′ is emitted respectively from the front and back surfacesof the sheet 50′.

[0575] The light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 50′ iscollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passes through thedichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOC lens array 16onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. Atthis time, the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the frontsurface of the sheet 50′ and is mixed slightly in the emitted light Mhaving passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16, is filtered outby the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0576] The emitted light M having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q, Q, . . . An image signal S made upof the signal components Q, Q, . . . is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0577] The light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 50′passes through the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′ and impinges uponthe third SELFOC lens array 16′. At this time, the laser beam L havingpassed through the sheet 50′ is slightly radiated from the back surfaceof the sheet 50′ together with the emitted light M′. The laser beam Lmixed in the emitted light M′ is filtered out by the stimulating raycut-off filter 17′.

[0578] The emitted light M′ having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17′ is converged by the third SELFOC lens array 16′ ontoeach of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21′, 21′, . . . constituting the line sensor 120′. The emittedlight Ml having thus been converged is received by the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . constituting the line sensor 120′ andphotoelectrically converted into signal components Q′, Q′, . . . Animage signal S′ made up of the signal components Q′, Q′, . . . is fedinto the image information reading means 130.

[0579] The image information reading means 130 receives the image signalS from the line sensor 120 and receives the image signal S′ from theline sensor 120′. The image information reading means 130 discriminateswhich signal component Q or Q′ corresponds to which pixel on the sheet50′ corresponding to the amount of displacement of the conveyor belts40A and 40B. Also, the image information reading means 130 performsweighted addition processing with a predetermined addition ratio on thesignal components of the two image signals S and S′, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the sheet 50′. In this manner, an addition signal is obtained.

[0580] As described above, with this embodiment of the seventh radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, theaddition signal is obtained from the addition processing of the twoimage signals S and S′ detected from the front and back surfaces of thesheet 50′. In the addition signal, noise occurring at random on thefront and back surfaces of the sheet 50′ is dispersed in the effectiveimage storing region of the sheet 50′. Therefore, noise components canbe rendered imperceptible with respect to the entire sheet 50′. Also,since the light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 50′ andthe light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 50′ arerespectively collected at the front and back surfaces of the sheet 50′,the light collecting efficiency can be enhanced. As a result, an imagesignal having a markedly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

[0581] In the aforesaid embodiment of the seventh radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of theoptical path of the laser beam L and part of the optical path of thelight M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 50′ overlap eachother, and the size of the apparatus is reduced. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 28, the seventh radiation image read-out apparatusin accordance with the present invention may be constituted such thatthe optical path of the laser beam L and the optical path of the lightemitted M do not overlap each other. Also, the embodiment of FIG. 28 maybe modified such that a line light source is located also on the backsurface side of the sheet 50′. In such a modification, it is necessaryfor a sheet provided with a substrate formed from a material permeableto the stimulating rays to be employed.

[0582] In the seventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, in lieu of the line sensors 120 and 120′,the line sensor 20 having the constitution shown in FIG. 2 and a linesensor 20′ of the same type may be employed.

[0583] With the embodiment of the seventh radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the linesensors 20 and 20′ comprising a plurality of rows of photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . or a plurality of rows of photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . are employed, the same effects asthose of the aforesaid embodiment of the seventh radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention can beobtained. Also, in cases where the light receiving width (i.e., thewidth in the minor axis direction of the line sensor 20) of each of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . is shorter than the linewidth of the emitted light M (i.e., the distribution width shown in theemitted light intensity distribution diagram in FIG. 2) the line sensor20 as a whole can receive the emitted light M over approximately theentire line width of the emitted light. Therefore, the light receivingefficiency can be enhanced. Accordingly, for example, in cases where,after the laser beam L having the beam width d_(L) (shown in FIG. 3A)approximately equal to the light receiving width of the photoelectricconversion device row 20B impinges upon the sheet 50′, the laser beam Lis scattered in the sheet 50′ and stimulates the area having a width(the width d_(M)) larger than the beam width d_(L), and the light M(with the intensity distribution shown in FIG. 3C) having a beam widthd_(M) larger than the light receiving width of the photoelectricconversion device row 20B is emitted as illustrated in FIG. 3B, theemitted light M having the wide beam width can be received efficiently.

[0584] As each of the line sensors 20 and 20′ comprising a plurality ofrows of photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . or a plurality ofrows of photoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . , the linesensor 80 shown in FIG. 7A or the line sensor 90 shown in FIG. 7B may beemployed.

[0585] Also, as the sheet 50′, the sheet (the anisotropic sheet) 150shown in FIG. 17A may also be employed. The sheet 150 has the sectionalstructure shown in FIG. 17B or the sectional structure of the sheet 160shown in FIG. 17C. In such cases, the stimulating ray reflectingpartition member 51 is formed from a material capable of reflecting thelaser beam L and transmitting the emitted light M. The stimulating rayreflecting partition member 51 suppresses the scattering of the laserbeam L to the direction in which the sheet surface extends. Therefore,the sharpness of the image reproduced from the image signal having beenobtained from the photoelectric conversion can be enhanced.

[0586]FIG. 29A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the eighthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 29B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 29A.

[0587] With reference to FIGS. 29A and 29B, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises the conveyor belts 40A and 40B for supporting astimulable phosphor sheet (hereinbelow referred to simply as the sheet)250, on which a radiation image has been stored, and conveying the sheet250 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y and in the directionindicated by the arrow −Y. The radiation image read-out apparatus alsocomprises the BLD 11 for radiating out a linear laser beam L having alinear pattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm and havingwavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm. The laser beamL is radiated out approximately in parallel with the front surface ofthe sheet 250. The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprisesthe optical system 12, which is constituted of a combination of acollimator lens for collimating the linear laser beam L having beenradiated out of the BLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam onlyin one direction. The radiation image read-out apparatus still furthercomprises the dichroic mirror 14, which is located at an angle of 45degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet 250 and which isset so as to reflect the laser beam L and to transmit emitted light Mdescribed later. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprisesthe first SELFOC lens array 15. The first SELFOC lens array 15 convergesthe linear laser beam L, which has been reflected from the dichroicmirror 14, into a linear beam (having a line width of approximately 100μm) extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X (parallel tothe side edge of the sheet 250) on the sheet 250. Also, the first SELFOClens array 15 collimates the emitted M, which is emitted from the frontsurface (i.e., the upper surface in FIG. 29A) of the sheet 250 exposedto the linear laser beam L and which carries image information of theradiation image stored on the sheet 250. The radiation image read-outapparatus further comprises the second SELFOC lens array 16 forconverging the emitted light M, which has been collimated by the firstSELFOC lens array 15 and has then passed through the dichroic mirror 14,onto the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. The radiationimage read-out apparatus still further comprises the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 for transmitting only the emitted light M andfiltering out the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the frontsurface of the sheet 250 and which is mixed slightly in the emittedlight M having passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16. Theradiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the line sensor 120,which is constituted of a plurality of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emitted light M having passedthrough the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and for photoelectricallyconverting the emitted light M. The radiation image read-out apparatusfurther comprises a shifting means 60 for shifting the light guidingoptical system, which contains the line sensor 120 and the BLD 11, tothe back surface side of the sheet 250 after the emitted light M hasbeen detected from the front surface of the sheet 250. The radiationimage read-out apparatus also comprises the image information readingmeans 130. The image information reading means 130 receives the imagesignals S and S′ having been detected respectively from the front andback surfaces of the sheet 250 by the line sensor 120. Also, the imageinformation reading means 130 performs predetermined weighted additionprocessing on signal components of the two image signals S and S′, whichimage signal components represent corresponding pixels on the front andback surfaces of the sheet 250.

[0588] The sheet 250 employed in the embodiment of the eighth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a substrate layer, which is formed from a material blockingthe stimulating rays, and two stimulable phosphor layers formed on thefront and back surface sides of the sheet 250 with the substrate layerintervening therebetween.

[0589] How this embodiment of the eighth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0590] Firstly, the conveyor belts 40A and 40B move in the directionindicated by the arrow Y, and the sheet 250, on which the radiationimage has been stored and which is supported on the conveyor belts 40Aand 40B, is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Theconveyance speed of the sheet 250 is equal to the movement speed of theconveyor belts 40A and 40B. Information representing the movement speedof the conveyor belts 40A and 40B is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0591] The BLD 11 radiates out the laser beam L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100am. The laser beam L is radiatedout approximately in parallel with the front surface of the sheet 250.The laser beam L is collimated by the optical system 12, which isconstituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and is located inthe optical path of the laser beam L. The collimated laser beam L isreflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to the direction that impingesperpendicularly upon the front surface of the sheet 250. The reflectedlaser beam L is converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into alinear beam extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X onthe front surface of the sheet 250.

[0592] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 250 stimulates thestimulable phosphor at the exposed area of the front surface of thesheet 250. As a result, the light M carrying the image informationstored on the sheet 250 is emitted from the front surface of the sheet250. At this time, since the laser beam L does not pass through thesubstrate layer of the sheet 250, it does not stimulate the stimulablephosphor at the back surface of the sheet 250. Therefore, no light isemitted from the back surface of the sheet 250.

[0593] The light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 250 iscollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passes through thedichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOC lens array 16onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. Atthis time, the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the frontsurface of the sheet 250 and is mixed slightly in the emitted light Mhaving passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16, is filtered outby the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0594] The emitted light M having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q, Q, . . . The image signal S made upof the signal components Q. Q, . . . is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0595] When the image signal S has been detected from the entire frontsurface of the sheet 250, the shifting means 60 shifts the light guidingoptical system, which contains the line sensor 120 and the BLD 11, tothe back surface side of the sheet 250.

[0596] Also, the conveyor belts 40A and 40B moves reversely in thedirection indicated by the arrow −Y, and the sheet 250, which issupported on the conveyor belts 40A and 40B, is conveyed in thedirection indicated by the arrow −Y. The BLD 11 having been shifted tothe back surface side of the sheet 250 radiates out the laser beam Lhaving a linear pattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm. Thelaser beam L is radiated out approximately in parallel with the backsurface of the sheet 250. The laser beam L is collimated by the opticalsystem 12, which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toriclens and is located in the optical path of the laser beam L. Thecollimated laser beam L is reflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to thedirection that impinges perpendicularly upon the back surface of thesheet 250. The reflected laser beam L is converged by the first SELFOClens array 15 into a linear beam extending along the direction indicatedby the arrow X on the back surface of the sheet 250.

[0597] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 250 stimulates thestimulable phosphor at the exposed area of the back surface of the sheet250. As a result, the light M′ carrying the image information stored onthe sheet 250 is emitted from the back surface of the sheet 250.

[0598] The light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 250 iscollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passes through thedichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOC lens array 16onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. Atthis time, the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the backsurface of the sheet 250 and is mixed slightly in the emitted light Mhaving passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16, is filtered outby the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0599] The emitted light M′ having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q′, Q′, . . . The image signal S′ madeup of the signal components Q′, Q′, . . . is fed into the imageinformation reading means 130.

[0600] The image information reading means 130 receives the image signalS, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when the frontsurface of the sheet 250 was exposed to the laser beam L, and the imagesignal S′, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when theback surface of the sheet 250 was exposed to the laser beam L. The imageinformation reading means 130 discriminates which signal component Q orQ′ corresponds to which pixel on the sheet 250 corresponding to theamount of displacement of the conveyor belts 40A and 40B. Also, theimage information reading means 130 performs weighted additionprocessing with a predetermined addition ratio on the signal componentsof the two image signals S and S′, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thesheet 250. In this manner, an addition signal is obtained.

[0601] As described above, with this embodiment of the eighth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, theaddition signal is obtained from the addition processing of the twoimage signals S and S′ detected from the front and back surfaces of thesheet 250. In the addition signal, noise occurring at random on thefront and back surfaces of the sheet 250 is dispersed in the effectiveimage storing region of the sheet 250. Therefore, noise components canbe rendered imperceptible with respect to the entire sheet 250. Also,since the light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 250 andthe light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 250 arerespectively collected at the front and back surfaces of the sheet 250,the light collecting efficiency can be enhanced. As a result, an imagesignal having a markedly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

[0602] In the aforesaid embodiment of the eighth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of theoptical path of the laser beam L and part of the optical path of thelight M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 250 overlap eachother, and the size of the apparatus is reduced. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 30, the eighth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention may be constituted such that theoptical path of the laser beam L and the optical path of the lightemitted M do not overlap each other. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 31,the BLD 11 and the line sensor 120 may be located on opposite surfacesides of the sheet 250.

[0603] In the aforesaid embodiments of the eighth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the linesensor comprising a plurality of rows of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . as shown in FIG. 2, 7A, or 7B, and the anisotropicsheet shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B or FIG. 17C may also be employed.

[0604]FIG. 32A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the ninthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 32B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 32A.

[0605] The radiation image read-out apparatus shown in FIGS. 32A and 32Bis constituted in the same manner as that in the embodiment of theeighth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, which is shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, except that, in lieu ofthe shifting means 60, a sheet reversing means 70 is employed. The sheetreversing means 70 reverses the front and back surfaces of the sheet 250after the emitted light M has been detected from the front surface(i.e., the upper surface in FIG. 32A) of the sheet 250.

[0606] Specifically, in this embodiment of the ninth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the laserbeam L is irradiated to the front surface of the sheet 250, and thelight M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 250 is detected. Theimage signal S corresponding to the emitted light M is fed into theimage information reading means 130. Thereafter, the sheet reversingmeans 70 reverses the front and back surfaces of the sheet 250. Also,the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belts 40A and 40B isreversed. The laser beam L is irradiated to the back surface of thesheet 250, and the light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet250 is detected. The image signal S′ corresponding to the emitted lightM′ is fed into the image information reading means 130.

[0607] The image information reading means 130 receives the image signalS, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when the frontsurface of the sheet 250 was exposed to the laser beam L, and the imagesignal S′, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when theback surface of the sheet 250 was exposed to the laser beam L. The imageinformation reading means 130 discriminates which signal component Q orQ′ corresponds to which pixel on the sheet 250 corresponding to theamount of displacement of the conveyor belts 40A and 40B. Also, theimage information reading means 130 performs weighted additionprocessing with a predetermined addition ratio on the signal componentsof the two image signals S and S′, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thesheet 250. In this manner, an addition signal is obtained.

[0608] As described above, with this embodiment of the ninth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, theaddition signal is obtained from the addition processing of the twoimage signals S and S′ detected from the front and back surfaces of thesheet 250. In the addition signal, noise occurring at random on thefront and back surfaces of the sheet 250 is dispersed in the effectiveimage storing region of the sheet 250. Therefore, noise components canbe rendered imperceptible with respect to the entire sheet 250. Also,since the light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 250 andthe light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 250 arerespectively collected at the front and back surfaces of the sheet 250,the light collecting efficiency can be enhanced. As a result, an imagesignal having a markedly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

[0609] In the aforesaid embodiment of the ninth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of the opticalpath of the laser beam L and part of the optical path of the light Memitted from the front surface of the sheet 250 overlap each other, andthe size of the apparatus is reduced. However, the ninth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention is notlimited to such a constitution. Also, in the aforesaid embodiments ofthe ninth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, the line sensor comprising a plurality of rows of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . as shown in FIG. 2, 7A,or 7B, and the anisotropic sheet shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B or FIG. 17Cmay also be employed.

[0610] Embodiments of the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth radiation imageread-out apparatuses in accordance with the present invention will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0611]FIG. 33A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the tenthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 33B is a sectional view taken on line I-I of FIG. 33A.FIGS. 34A and 34B are sectional views showing examples of stimulablephosphor sheets for energy subtraction processing, which may be employedin the embodiment of FIGS. 33A and 33B.

[0612] A stimulable phosphor sheet 350 shown in FIG. 34A comprises twostimulable phosphor layers 354 and 354′, which are formed from materialshaving different radiation energy absorption characteristics. Whenradiation carrying image information of a single object is irradiatedonto one surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 350, tworadiation images are formed with radiation having different energydistributions on the stimulable phosphor layer 354, which is located onthe front surface side (i.e., the upper side in FIG. 34A) of the sheet350, and the stimulable phosphor layer 354′, which is located on theback surface side (i.e., the lower side in FIG. 34A) of the sheet 350. Astimulable phosphor sheet 360 shown in FIG. 34B comprises two stimulablephosphor layers 354, 354, which are formed from the same material, and aradiation energy separation filter 355 intervening between the twostimulable phosphor layers 354, 354. As in the cases of the sheet 350shown in FIG. 34A, when radiation carrying image information of a singleobject is irradiated onto one surface side of the stimulable phosphorsheet 360, two radiation images are formed with radiation havingdifferent energy distributions on the stimulable phosphor layer 354,which is located on the front surface side of the sheet 360, and thestimulable phosphor layer 354, which is located on the back surface sideof the sheet 360.

[0613] In this embodiment, the sheet 350 shown in FIG. 34A is employed.However, it is also possible to employ the sheet 360 shown in FIG. 34B.

[0614] With reference to FIGS. 33A and 33B, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises the conveyor belts 40A and 40B for supporting thesheet 350 for energy subtraction processing, which is shown in FIG. 34A,and conveying the sheet 350 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y.On the front stimulable phosphor layer 354 and the back stimulablephosphor layer 354′ of the sheet 350, two radiation images of a singleobject have been formed with radiation having different energydistributions. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises thebroad area semiconductor laser (hereinbelow referred to as the BLD) 11for radiating out a linear laser beam L having a linear pattern with aline width of approximately 100 μm and having wavelengths falling withinthe range of 600 nm to 700 nm. The laser beam L is radiated outapproximately in parallel with the front surface of the sheet 350. Theradiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the optical system12, which is constituted of a combination of a collimator lens forcollimating the linear laser beam L having been radiated out of the BLD11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam only in one direction. Theradiation image read-out apparatus still further comprises the dichroicmirror 14, which is located at an angle of 45 degrees with respect tothe front surface of the sheet 350 and which is set so as to reflect thelaser beam L and to transmit emitted light M described later. Theradiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the first SELFOC lensarray 15. The first SELFOC lens array 15 converges the linear laser beamL, which has been reflected from the dichroic mirror 14, into a linearbeam (having a line width of approximately 100 μm) extending along thedirection indicated by the arrow X (parallel to the side edge of thesheet 350) on the sheet 350. Also, the first SELFOC lens array 15collimates the emitted M, which is emitted from the front surface (i.e.,the upper surface in FIG. 33A) of the sheet 350 exposed to the linearlaser beam L and which carries image information of the radiation imagestored on the sheet 350. The radiation image read-out apparatus furthercomprises the second SELFOC lens array 16 for converging the emittedlight M, which has been collimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15 andhas then passed through the dichroic mirror 14, onto light receivingsurfaces of photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constitutingthe line sensor 120, which will be described later. The radiation imageread-out apparatus still further comprises the stimulating ray cut-offfilter 17 for transmitting only the emitted light M and filtering outthe laser beam L, which has been reflected from the front surface of thesheet 350 and which is mixed slightly in the emitted light M havingpassed through the second SELFOC lens array 16. The radiation imageread-out apparatus also comprises the line sensor 120, which isconstituted of a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, .. . for receiving the emitted light M having passed through thestimulating ray cut-off filter 17 and for photoelectrically convertingthe emitted light M. The radiation image read-out apparatus furthercomprises the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′. The stimulating raycut-off filter 17′ transmits only the emitted light M′, which emanatesfrom the back surface (i.e., the lower surface in FIG. 33A) of the sheet350. The stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′ filters out the laser beamL, which has passed through the sheet 350 and emanates slightly from theback surface of the sheet 350 together with the emitted light M′. Theradiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the third SELFOC lensarray 16′ for converging the emitted light M′, which has passed throughthe stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′, onto the light receivingsurfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . .constituting the line sensor 120′, which will be described later. Theradiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the line sensor120′, which is constituted of a plurality of the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . for receiving the emitted light M′having passed through the third SELFOC lens array 16′ and forphotoelectrically converting the emitted light M′. The radiation imageread-out apparatus still further comprises image information readingmeans 130. The image information reading means 130 reads an image signalSL made up of signal components (outputs) obtained from thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the linesensor 120 and an image signal SH made up of signal components (outputs)obtained from the photoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . .constituting the line sensor 120′. Also, the image information readingmeans 130 performs a subtraction process on signal components of the twoimage signals SL and SH, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the sheet 350.The subtraction process is performed with Formula (1) shown below.

Sproc=Ka·SH−Kb·SL+Kc  (1)

[0615] in which Sproc represents the subtraction image signal obtainedfrom the subtraction process, each of Ka and Kb represents the weightfactor, and Kc represents the bias component (Ka, Kb, and Kc willhereinbelow be referred to as the parameters for the subtractionprocess), SH represents the image signal made up of signal componentsobtained from the photoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . .constituting the line sensor 120′ (i.e., the high energy image signalrepresenting the radiation image formed with radiation having a highenergy level), and SL represents the image signal made up of signalcomponents obtained from the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, .. . constituting the line sensor 120 (i.e., the low energy image signalrepresenting the radiation image formed with radiation having a lowenergy level). The subtraction process is performed by subtractionprocessing means. (not shown) incorporated in the image informationreading means 130.

[0616] The first SELFOC lens array 15 acts such that an image of theemission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 350 is formed inone-to-one size relationship on the image surface at the dichroic mirror14. The second SELFOC lens array 16 acts such that an image of theemitted light M on the dichroic mirror 14 is formed in one-to-one sizerelationship on the image surface at the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . The third SELFOC lensarray 16′ acts such that an image of the emitted light M′ on the backsurface of the sheet 350 is formed in one-to-one size relationship onthe image surface at the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . of the line sensor 120′.

[0617] The line sensor 120 and the line sensor 120′ are constituted inthe same manner as that illustrated in FIG. 27.

[0618] As described above, on the front stimulable phosphor layer 354and the back stimulable phosphor layer 354′ of the sheet 350, tworadiation images have been formed with radiation having different energydistributions. Specifically, when radiation carrying image informationof a single object is irradiated onto the stimulable phosphor layer 354,which is located on the front surface side of the sheet 350, the tworadiation images are formed with radiation having different energydistributions on the front stimulable phosphor layer 354 and the backstimulable phosphor layer 354′ of the sheet 350. On the back stimulablephosphor layer 354′, the radiation image is formed with radiation havingan energy distribution, in which the low energy components of theradiation have been suppressed comparatively. On the front stimulablephosphor layer 354, the radiation image is formed with radiation havingan energy distribution, in which the low energy components of theradiation have been enhanced in comparison with the back stimulablephosphor layer 354′.

[0619] How this embodiment of the tenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0620] Firstly, the conveyor belts 40A and 40B move in the directionindicated by the arrow Y, and the sheet 350, on which the radiationimages have been stored and which is supported on the conveyor belts 40Aand 40B, is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Theconveyance speed of the sheet 350 is equal to the movement speed of theconveyor belts 40A and 40B. Information representing the movement spacedof the conveyor belts 40A and 40B is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0621] The BLD 11 radiates out the laser beam L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The laser beam L is radiatedout approximately in parallel with the front surface of the sheet 350.The laser beam L is collimated by the optical system 12, which isconstituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and is located inthe optical path of the laser beam L. The collimated laser beam L isreflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to the direction that impingesperpendicularly upon the front surface of the sheet 350. The reflectedlaser beam L is converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into alinear beam (having a line width d_(L) of approximately 100 μm)extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X on the sheet 350.

[0622] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 350 stimulates theareas of the stimulable phosphor layers 354 and 354′, which areascorrespond to the exposed area of the sheet 350. As a result, the lightM, which carries the image information stored on the stimulable phosphorlayer 354, is emitted from the front surface of the sheet 350. Also, thelight M′, which carries the image information stored on the stimulablephosphor layer 354′, is emitted from the back surface of the sheet 350.

[0623] The light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 350 iscollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passes through thedichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOC lens array 16onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. Atthis time, the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the frontsurface of the sheet 350 and is mixed slightly in the emitted light Mhaving passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16, is filtered outby the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0624] The emitted light M having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q, Q, . . . The image signal SL made upof the signal components Q, Q, . . . is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0625] The light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 350passes through the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17′ and impinges uponthe third SELFOC lens array 16′. At this time, the laser beam L havingpassed through the sheet 350 is slightly radiated from the back surfaceof the sheet 350 together with the emitted light M′. The laser beam Lmixed in the emitted light M′ is filtered out by the stimulating raycut-off filter 17′.

[0626] The emitted light M′ having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17′ is converged by the third SELFOC lens array 16′ ontoeach of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21′, 21′, . . . constituting the line sensor 120′. The emittedlight M′ having thus been converged is received by the photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . constituting the line sensor 120′ andphotoelectrically converted into signal components Q′, Q′, . . . Theimage signal SH made up of the signal components Q′, Q′, . . . is fedinto the image information reading means 130.

[0627] The image information reading means 130 receives the image signalSL from the line sensor 120 and receives the image signal SH from theline sensor 120′. The image information reading means 130 discriminateswhich signal component Q or Q′ corresponds to which pixel on the sheet350 corresponding to the amount of displacement of the conveyor belts40A and 40B. Also, the subtraction processing means (not shown)incorporated in the image information reading means 130 performs thesubtraction process on the signal components of the two image signals SLand SH, which signal components represent corresponding pixels on thefront and back surfaces of the sheet 350. The subtraction process isperformed with Formula (1) shown above.

[0628] As described above, with this embodiment of the tenth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, thesubtraction image signal Sproc can be obtained easily from the imagesignals SL and SH having been detected from the front and back surfacesof the sheet 350.

[0629] In the aforesaid embodiment of the tenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of the opticalpath of the laser beam L and part of the optical path of the light Memitted from the front surface of the sheet 350 overlap each other, andthe size of the apparatus is reduced. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 35, the tenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance withthe present invention may be constituted such that the optical path ofthe laser beam L and the optical path of the light emitted M do notoverlap each other. Also, the embodiment of FIG. 35 may be modified suchthat a line light source is located also on the back surface side of thesheet 350. In such a modification, it is necessary for a sheet providedwith a substrate formed from a material permeable to the stimulatingrays to be employed.

[0630] In the tenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention, in lieu of the line sensors 120 and 120′,the line sensor 20 having the constitution shown in FIG. 2 and a linesensor 20′ of the same type may be employed.

[0631] With the embodiment of the tenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the linesensors 20 and 20′ comprising a plurality of rows of photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . or a plurality of rows of photoelectricconversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . are employed, the same effects asthose of the aforesaid embodiment of the tenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention can be obtained.Also, in cases where the light receiving width (i.e., the width in theminor axis direction of the line sensor 20) of each of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . is shorter than the line width of theemitted light M (i.e., the distribution width shown in the emitted lightintensity distribution diagram in FIG. 2) the line sensor 20 as a wholecan receive the emitted light M over approximately the entire line widthof the emitted light. Therefore, the light receiving efficiency can beenhanced. Accordingly, for example, in cases where, after the laser beamL having the beam width d_(L) (shown in FIG. 3A) approximately equal tothe light receiving width of the photoelectric conversion device row 20Bimpinges upon the sheet 350, the laser beam L is scattered in the sheet350 and stimulates the area having a width (the width d_(M)) larger thanthe beam width d_(L), and the light M and the light M′ (with theintensity distribution shown in FIG. 3C) having a beam width d_(M)larger than the light receiving width of the photoelectric conversiondevice row 20B are emitted as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the emitted lightM and the emitted light M′ having the wide beam width can be receivedefficiently.

[0632] As each of the line sensors 20 and 20′ comprising a plurality ofrows of photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . or a plurality ofrows of photoelectric conversion devices 21′, 21′, . . . , the linesensor 80 shown in FIG. 7A or the line sensor 90 shown in FIG. 7B may beemployed.

[0633] Also, in the embodiments of the tenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, as the sheet 350,the anisotropic sheet 370 shown in FIG. 36A and 36B or the anisotropicsheet 380 shown in FIG. 36C may also be employed. Specifically, in thesheet 370, each of the stimulable phosphor layers 354 and 354′ ispartitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member 351, whichextends in the thickness direction of the sheet 370, into a plurality offine cells C, C, . . . As in the sheet 350 shown in FIG. 34A, the sheet370 having the sectional structure shown in FIG. 36B comprises the twostimulable phosphor layers 354 and 354′ formed from materials havingdifferent radiation energy absorption characteristics. Also, each of thestimulable phosphor layers 354 and 354′ is partitioned by thestimulating ray reflecting partition member 351 into the plurality ofthe fine cells C, C, . . . As in the sheet 360 shown in FIG. 34B, thesheet 380 having the sectional structure shown in FIG. 36C comprises thetwo stimulable phosphor layers 354, 354, which are formed from the samematerial, and the radiation energy separation filter 355 interveningbetween the two stimulable phosphor layers 354, 354. Also, each of thetwo stimulable phosphor layers 354, 354 is partitioned by thestimulating ray reflecting partition member 351 into the plurality ofthe fine cells C, C, . . .

[0634] The stimulating ray reflecting partition member 351 constitutingthe anisotropic sheet is formed from a material capable of reflectingthe laser beam L and transmitting the emitted light M and the emittedlight M′. The stimulating ray reflecting partition member 351 suppressesthe scattering of the laser beam L to the direction in which the sheetsurface extends. Therefore, the sharpness of the image reproduced fromthe image signal having been obtained from the photoelectric conversioncan be enhanced.

[0635]FIG. 37A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of theeleventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention. FIG. 37B is a sectional view taken on line I-I ofFIG. 37A.

[0636] The embodiment of FIGS. 37A and 37B has basically the sameconstitution as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B.

[0637] A sheet 390 employed in the embodiment of the eleventh radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention mayhave one of structures shown in FIGS. 34A, 34B, 36A, 36B, and 36C. Inthe sheet 390, an intermediate layer, which is formed from a materialblocking the stimulating rays, or a radiation energy separation filtercontaining such a material is formed between the front stimulablephosphor layer 354 and the back stimulable phosphor layer 354 or 354′.

[0638] How this embodiment of the eleventh radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0639] Firstly, the conveyor belts 40A and 40B move in the directionindicated by the arrow Y, and the sheet 390, on which the radiationimages have been stored and which is supported on the conveyor belts 40Aand 40B, is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow Y. Theconveyance speed of the sheet 390 is equal to the movement speed of theconveyor belts 40A and 40B. Information representing the movement speedof the conveyor belts 40A and 40B is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0640] The BLD 11 radiates out the laser beam L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The laser beam L is radiatedout approximately in parallel with the front surface of the sheet 390.The laser beam L is collimated by the optical system 12, which isconstituted of the collimator lens and the toric lens and is located inthe optical path of the laser beam L. The collimated laser beam L isreflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to the direction that impingesperpendicularly upon the front surface of the sheet 390. The reflectedlaser beam L is converged by the first SELFOC lens array 15 into alinear beam extending along the direction indicated by the arrow X onthe front surface of the sheet 390.

[0641] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 390 stimulates thestimulable phosphor layer 354 at the exposed area of the front surfaceof the sheet 390. As a result, the light M carrying the imageinformation stored on the stimulable phosphor layer 354 is emitted fromthe front surface of the sheet 390. At this time, since the laser beam Ldoes not pass through the intermediate layer (or the radiation energyseparation filter) of the sheet 390, it does not stimulate thestimulable phosphor layer 354 (or 354′) at the back surface of the sheet390. Therefore, no light is emitted from the back surface of the sheet390.

[0642] The light M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 390 iscollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passes through thedichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOC lens array 16onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. Atthis time, the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the frontsurface of the sheet 390 and is mixed slightly in the emitted light Mhaving passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16, is filtered outby the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0643] The emitted light M having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q, Q, . . . The image signal SL made upof the signal components Q, Q, . . . is fed into the image informationreading means 130.

[0644] When the image signal SL has been detected from the entire frontsurface of the sheet 390, the shifting means 60 shifts the light guidingoptical system, which contains the line sensor 120 and the BLD 11, tothe back surface side of the sheet 390.

[0645] Also, the conveyor belts 40A and 40B moves reversely in thedirection indicated by the arrow −Y, and the sheet 390, which issupported on the conveyor belts 40A and 40B, is conveyed in thedirection indicated by the arrow −Y. The BLD 11 having been shifted tothe back surface side of the sheet 390 radiates out the laser beam Lhaving a linear pattern with a line width of approximately 100 μm. Thelaser beam L is radiated out approximately in parallel with the backsurface of the sheet 390. The laser beam L is collimated by the opticalsystem 12, which is constituted of the collimator lens and the toriclens and is located in the optical path of the laser beam L. Thecollimated laser beam L is reflected from the dichroic mirror 14 to thedirection that impinges perpendicularly upon the back surface of thesheet 390. The reflected laser beam L is converged by the first SELFOClens array 15 into a linear beam extending along the direction indicatedby the arrow X on the back surface of the sheet 390.

[0646] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 390 stimulates thestimulable phosphor layer 354 (or 354′) at the exposed area of the backsurface of the sheet 390. As a result, the light M′ carrying the imageinformation stored on the stimulable phosphor layer 354 (or 354′) isemitted from the back surface of the sheet 390.

[0647] The light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet 390 iscollimated by the first SELFOC lens array 15, passes through thedichroic mirror 14, and is converged by the second SELFOC lens array 16onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120. Atthis time, the laser beam L, which has been reflected from the backsurface of the sheet 390 and is mixed slightly in the emitted light Mhaving passed through the second SELFOC lens array 16, is filtered outby the stimulating ray cut-off filter 17.

[0648] The emitted light M′ having passed through the stimulating raycut-off filter 17 is received by the photoelectric conversion devices21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 120 and photoelectricallyconverted into signal components Q′, Q′, . . . The image signal SH madeup of the signal components Q′, Q′, . . . is fed into the imageinformation reading means 130.

[0649] The image information reading means 130 receives the image signalSL, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when the frontsurface of the sheet 390 was exposed to the laser beam L, and the imagesignal SH, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when theback surface of the sheet 390 was exposed to the laser beam L. The imageinformation reading means 130 discriminates which signal component Q orQ′ corresponds to which pixel on the sheet 390 corresponding to theamount of displacement of the conveyor belts 40A and 40B. Also, thesubtraction processing means (not shown) incorporated in the imageinformation reading means 130 performs the subtraction process on thesignal components of the two image signals SL and SH, which signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the sheet 390.

[0650] As described above, with this embodiment of the eleventhradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the subtraction image signal Sproc can be obtained easilyfrom the image signals SL and SH having been detected from the front andback surfaces of the sheet 350.

[0651] In the aforesaid embodiment of the eleventh radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of theoptical path of the laser beam L and part of the optical path of thelight M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 390 overlap eachother, and the size of the apparatus is reduced. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 38, the eleventh radiation image read-out apparatusin accordance with the present invention may be constituted such thatthe optical path of the laser beam L and the optical path of the lightemitted M do not overlap each other. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 39,the BLD 11 and the line sensor 120 may be located on opposite surfacesides of the sheet 390.

[0652] In the aforesaid embodiments of the eleventh radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the linesensor comprising a plurality of rows of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . as shown in FIG. 2, 7A, or 7B, and the anisotropicsheet shown in FIG. 36A, 36B, or 36C may also be employed.

[0653]FIG. 40A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of thetwelfth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention. FIG. 40B is a sectional view taken on line I-I ofFIG. 40A.

[0654] The radiation image read-out apparatus shown in FIGS. 40A and 40Bis constituted in the same manner as that in the embodiment of theeleventh radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, which is shown in FIGS. 37A and 37B, except that, inlieu of the shifting means 60, the sheet reversing means 70 is employed.The sheet reversing means 70 reverses the front and back surfaces of thesheet 390 after the emitted light M has been detected from the frontsurface (i.e., the upper surface in FIG. 40A) of the sheet 390.

[0655] Specifically, in this embodiment of the twelfth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the laserbeam L is irradiated to the front surface of the sheet 390, and thelight M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 390 is detected. Theimage signal SL corresponding to the emitted light M is fed into theimage information reading means 130. Thereafter, the sheet reversingmeans 70 reverses the front and back surfaces of the sheet 390. Also,the direction of conveyance of the conveyor belts 40A and 40B isreversed. The laser beam L is irradiated to the back surface of thesheet 390, and the light M′ emitted from the back surface of the sheet390 is detected. The image signal SH corresponding to the emitted lightM′ is fed into the image information reading means 130.

[0656] The image information reading means 130 receives the image signalSL, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when the frontsurface of the sheet 390 was exposed to the laser beam L, and the imagesignal SH, which has been obtained from the line sensor 120 when theback surface of the sheet 390 was exposed to the laser beam L. The imageinformation reading means 130 discriminates which signal component Q orQ′ corresponds to which pixel on the sheet 390 corresponding to theamount of displacement of the conveyor belts 40A and 40B. Also, thesubtraction processing means (not shown) incorporated in the imageinformation reading means 130 performs the subtraction process on thesignal components of the two image signals SL and SH, which signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the sheet 390.

[0657] As described above, with this embodiment of the twelfth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, thesubtraction image signal Sproc can be obtained easily from the imagesignals SL and SH having been detected from the front and back surfacesof the sheet 350.

[0658] In the aforesaid embodiment of the twelfth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, part of theoptical path of the laser beam L and part of the optical path of thelight M emitted from the front surface of the sheet 390 overlap eachother, and the size of the apparatus is reduced. However, the twelfthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention is not limited to such a constitution. Also, in the aforesaidembodiments of the twelfth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, the line sensor comprising aplurality of rows of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .as shown in FIG. 2, 7A, or 7B, and the anisotropic sheet shown in FIG.36A, 36B, or 36C may also be employed.

[0659] Embodiments of the fourteenth radiation image read-out apparatusin accordance with the present invention will be described hereinbelow.

[0660] In the embodiments of the fourteenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, a back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor (hereinbelow referred to as the BT-CCD imagesensor) is employed as the line sensor 20 in the embodiments describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and FIGS. 2 through 9 and as theline sensor 120 in the embodiments described above with reference toFIGS. 11A, 11B and FIG. 12.

[0661] In this case, the line sensor 20 or 120 is supported on coolingmeans (not shown) utilizing a Peltier device and is cooled when theapparatus is operating. Besides the cooling means utilizing the Peltierdevice, one of various known cooling techniques, such- as a coolingtechnique utilizing a heat sink, may be employed.

[0662]FIG. 41 is a graph showing typical spectral sensitivitycharacteristics of the BT-CCD image sensor and spectral sensitivitycharacteristics of an ordinarily utilized front illuminated type of CCDimage sensor for comparison. As shown in FIG. 41, the quantum efficiencyof the BT-CCD image sensor is higher than that of the ordinarilyutilized front illuminated type of CCD image sensor over the ultravioletto infrared region. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an image signalhaving a higher level than with the ordinarily utilized frontilluminated type of CCD image sensor. As a result, an image having goodimage quality with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

[0663] Also, the BT-CCD image sensor has the characteristic features inthat, in the ultraviolet to blue region, the quantum efficiency ismarkedly high (e.g., at least 50%). (In the ultraviolet to blue region,the quantum efficiency of the front illuminated type of CCD image sensoris approximately zero.) Therefore, in cases where the BT-CCD imagesensor is utilized as the line sensor 20 or 120 and in combination witha stimulable phosphor sheet emitting blue light, the emitted lightutilization efficiency can be enhanced markedly, and markedly largeeffects of obtaining images having good quality can be obtained.

[0664] The line sensor 20 or 120 is cooled by the cooling means (notshown), and thermal noise is thereby suppressed. FIG. 42 is a graphshowing typical dark output (logarithmic scale)—temperaturecharacteristics of the BT-CCD image sensor. As shown in FIG. 42, incases where the BT-CCD image sensor is cooled, the dark output can bereduced, and an image having good image quality with suppressed noisecan be obtained. In the embodiments, the setting temperature of thecooling means is set at approximately −20° C., and the dark output isapproximately 10 (e/pixel/sec).

[0665] The detection limit of the BT-CCD image sensor cooled forsuppressing thermal noise is 20 (electron/pixel). Since the CCDphotoelectric conversion efficiency is equal to 0.995 and the quantumefficiency at a wavelength of 400 nm is equal to 0.6, the detectionlimit photon number of the BT-CCD image sensor is equal to 34(photon/pixel). The detection limit of the BT-CCD image sensor is higherthan the detection limit of a photomultiplier, but is not markedlydifferent from the detection limit of the photomultiplier. Therefore, incases where the BT-CCD image sensor is utilized, the same level of imagequality as that with an apparatus utilizing the photomultiplier can beobtained.

[0666] In cases where a photodiode array with an amplifier is utilized,its detection limit is, for example, approximately 1,250(electron/pixel). Since the quantum efficiency of the photodiode arraywith an amplifier at a wavelength of 400 nm is equal to 0.57, if thephotoelectric conversion efficiency is approximately equal to 1, thedetection limit photon number of the photodiode array with an amplifieris equal to approximately 2,000 (photon/pixel). However, this valuecontains an increase in noise due to array formation. Therefore, incases where the photodiode array with an amplifier is utilized as thelight receiving device, the detection limit value decreases by 2 to 3orders of ten, and the same level of image quality as that with anapparatus utilizing the photomultiplier cannot be obtained. In the casesof the photomultiplier, 6.4 photons emitted from a 50 μ-size pixel sheetcan be detected.

[0667] The image signal S obtained in the manner described above isobtained by detecting blue light emitted by the sheet 50 by utilizingthe BT-CCD image sensor as the line sensor 20 or 120. Therefore, theefficiency with which the emitted light is utilized can be enhancedmarkedly, and an image having a high signal-to-noise ratio can beobtained.

[0668] The line sensor 20 or 120 described above is illustrated as beingone which is produced as a long line sensor having a lengthcorresponding to the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet with asingle production process. Currently, it is not impossible but is noteasy to produce the long line sensor as a single member due tolimitation upon the current CCD production techniques, such as pixelshift and location of the cooling means. FIGS. 43A through 43J show atechnique for solving the technical problems described above. With thetechnique shown in FIGS. 43A through 43J, a plurality of backilluminated type of CCD image sensor chips (hereinbelow referred to asthe BT-CCD image sensor chips), each of which is smaller than the widthof the stimulable phosphor sheet, are utilized. The plurality of theBT-CCD image sensor chips are arrayed along the length direction of thelinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, i.e., along the major axisdirection (indicated by the arrow X), such that they may have a totallength corresponding to the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Inthis manner, a single BT-CCD image sensor is constituted. FIG. 43A showsa BT-CCD line sensor 520 comprising a plurality of BT-CCD image sensorchips 522, 522, . . . arrayed in a straight line along the major axisdirection (indicated by the arrow X). FIG. 43B shows a BT-CCD linesensor 530 comprising a plurality of BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522,. . . arrayed in a zigzag pattern along the major axis direction(indicated by the arrow X), such that adjacent BT-CCD image sensor chips522, 522 do not overlap each other. FIG. 43C shows a BT-CCD line sensor540 comprising a plurality of BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522, . . .arrayed in a zigzag pattern along the major axis direction (indicated bythe arrow X), such that adjacent BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522partly overlap each other. In FIGS. 43B and 43C, at free regionsindicated by the “*” mark, which are not occupied by the BT-CCD imagesensor chips 522, 522, . . . , electric circuits for pixel shiftcompensation, electric circuits for cooling, and other elements can belocated.

[0669]FIGS. 43D, 43E, 43F, and 43G show examples of array patterns ofthe photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting each ofthe BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522, . . . The BT-CCD image sensorchip 522 shown in FIG. 43D employs the array pattern in the line sensor120 shown in FIG. 12. In the BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown in FIG.43D, a plurality of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .are arrayed in a straight line along the direction indicated by thearrow X. The BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown in FIG. 43E employs thearray pattern in the line sensor 20 shown in FIG. 2. In the BT-CCD imagesensor chip 522 shown in FIG. 43E, a plurality of rows of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . are located in parallel.Specifically, in the BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown in FIG. 43E, thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . are arrayed along thedirection indicated by the arrow X and thus constitute one row. Aplurality of (in this case, three) such rows of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . extending along the direction indicatedby the arrow X stand side by side in the direction of sheet conveyance(indicated by the arrow Y). The BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown inFIG. 43F employs the array pattern in the line sensor 80 shown in FIG.7A. Specifically, in the BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown in FIG. 43F,the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . are arrayed in astraight line along the major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X)and in a zigzag pattern along the minor axis direction (indicated by thearrow Y). The BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown in FIG. 43G employs thearray pattern in the line sensor 90 shown in FIG. 7B. Specifically, inthe BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 shown in FIG. 43G, the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . are arrayed in a straight line alongthe minor axis direction (indicated by the arrow Y) and in a zigzagpattern along the major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X). Byway of example, in cases where the number of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . arrayed in each row along the majoraxis direction (indicated by the arrow X) in the line sensor 520, 530,or 540 is equal to 1,000, the number of the photoelectric conversiondevices 21, 21, . . . arrayed along the major axis direction (indicatedby the arrow X) in one BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 may fall within therange of {fraction (1/100)} to {fraction (1/10)}.

[0670] The BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522, . . . constituting eachof the line sensors 520, 530, and 540 shown in FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 43Cmay take one of array patterns shown in FIGS. 43D, 43E, 43F, and 43G.Also, in the line sensors 520, 530, and 540 shown in FIGS. 43A, 43B, and43C, the BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522, . . . are arrayed such thatthe length direction (indicated by the arrow X) of each BT-CCD imagesensor chip 522 may coincide with the length direction (indicated by thearrow X) of the line sensor. Alternatively, as in line sensors 550, 560,and 570 illustrated in FIGS. 43H, 43I, and 43J, the BT-CCD image sensorchips 522, 522, . . . may be arrayed such that the width direction(indicated by the arrow Y) of each BT-CCD image sensor chip 522 maycoincide with the length direction (indicated by the arrow X) of theline sensor. With the line sensors shown in FIGS. 43A, 43B, 43C, 43H,43I, and 43J, in accordance with the array patterns of the BT-CCD imagesensor chips 522, 522, . . . , the same effects as those of the linesensors 20, 80, 90, and 120 shown in FIGS. 2, 7A, 7B, and 12 can beobtained.

[0671] With the technique described above, wherein one BT-CCD linesensor is constituted by arraying plurality of the BT-CCD image sensorchips along the major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X) suchthat they may have a total length corresponding to the width of thestimulable phosphor sheet, the line sensor can be produced with a simpleproduction process, the yield of the products in the production processcan be enhanced, and the cost can be kept low.

[0672] Further, signal components can be taken from each of the BT-CCDimage sensor chips, and therefore compensation for pixel shift can beperformed more easily than when the entire line sensor is produced as asingle member. Particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 43C, in cases wherethe BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522, . . . are arrayed in a zigzagpattern such that adjacent BT-CCD image sensor chips 522, 522 partlyoverlap each other, the compensation for pixel shift becomes more easyby the utilization of data at the overlapping portions.

[0673] In cases where a plurality of BT-CCD image sensor chips arearrayed along the major axis direction (indicated by the arrow X), thearraying should preferably be performed such that no insensible zone mayoccur at joints. If such arraying is difficult to perform, processingfor compensation for the insensible zone should preferably be performedon the image signal such that the joints may be connected smoothly inthe reproduced image.

[0674] The stimulable phosphor sheet utilized in the fourteenthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention may be a stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtractionprocessing, which stores two radiation images of a single object formedwith radiation having different energy distributions, the stimulablephosphor sheet being capable of emitting light, which carriesinformation of one of the two radiation images, from a front surface,and emitting light, which carries information of the other radiationimage, from a back surface. Also, two line sensors constituted of theBT-CCD image sensors may be utilized, each of which is located on one ofthe front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thetwo line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made upof a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet. Further, the apparatus may be provided with readingmeans for performing a subtraction process on image signal components ofthe two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet. In such cases, as each of the two line sensors locatedon opposite surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, a BT-CCDimage sensor, which is constituted in the manner described above byarraying plurality of the BT-CCD image sensor chips along the lengthdirection of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet such thatthey may have a total length corresponding to the width of thestimulable phosphor sheet, may be utilized.

[0675] As the stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtractionprocessing, it is possible to employ an anisotropic stimulable phosphorsheet, such as a stimulable phosphor sheet, wherein the light emissionregion of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulatingray reflecting partition member, which extends in the thicknessdirection of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of finecells.

[0676] In the aforesaid embodiments of the fourteenth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein theline light source and the line sensor are utilized, the back illuminatedtype of CCD image sensor is employed as the line sensor. In anembodiment of the thirteenth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, wherein the light emitted by astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,is detected with an area sensor, the back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor may also be employed as the area sensor.

[0677] In such cases, instead of the area sensor covering the entiresurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet being produced with a singleproduction process, the back illuminated type of CCD image sensorcovering the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet as a wholemay be produced by arraying a plurality of BT-CCD image sensor chipseach having a small area.

[0678] Embodiments of the fifteenth radiation image read-out apparatusin accordance with the present invention will be described hereinbelow.

[0679] In the embodiments of the fifteenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, an organic EL deviceis employed as the line light source in lieu of the BLD 11 in theembodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and FIGS. 2through 9 and as the line sensor 120 in the embodiments described abovewith reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B and FIG. 12.

[0680] The organic EL device 11 may be one which produces linearstimulating rays L having a line width of approximately 100 μm andwavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm (red light).The organic EL device 11 may be of one of various materials and one ofvarious structures and may be produced by one of various productionprocesses. As the material for red light emission, Rhodaminedielectrics, oxazine dielectrics, Eu (III) complexes, and the like, arepreferable. The organic EL device 11 may be constituted of a combinationof a white light emitting device and a red color filter.

[0681] In the embodiments of the fifteenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, the linearstimulating rays L impinging upon the sheet 50 is produced by theorganic EL device 11 capable of undergoing high luminance emission andis advantageous over the fluorescence produced by a fluorescent lamp andlight radiated out from an LED array in that the directivity of thestimulating rays is high, the intensity of the stimulating rays is high,and therefore high stimulation energy can be imparted to the stimulablephosphor sheet. Accordingly, the stimulating rays L can sufficientlystimulate the stimulable phosphor at the exposed area (having a linewidth d_(L) of approximately 100 μm). As a result, the blue light M ofhigh intensity carrying the image information stored on the sheet 50 isemitted by the stimulable phosphor at the exposed area.

[0682] Ordinarily, in the cases of a broad area laser, the size of thesystem containing a control system is comparatively large, and the broadarea laser is not very easy to process. Also, a laser system iscomparatively expensive. The organic EL device 11 is advantageous inthat it is compact (thin), cheap, and easy to process.

[0683] As described above, in the embodiments of the fifteenth radiationimage read-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, theimage signal S made up of the signal components Q, Q, . . . is the oneobtained from the emitted light M caused to occur by being stimulated bythe stimulating rays L having high stimulation energy. Therefore, animage having a higher signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained than with animage signal obtained from the fluorescence produced by a fluorescentlamp or light radiated out from an LED array.

[0684] The apparatus may further comprises the monitoring means 65(shown in FIG. 11A) for monitoring the intensity of the stimulating raysL radiated out of the organic EL device 11, and the modulating means 75for modulating the emission intensity of the organic EL device 11 inaccordance with the results of the monitoring with the monitoring means65 such that the power of the organic EL device 11 may become equal to apredetermined value. When fluctuation in intensity of the stimulatingrays L radiated out of the organic EL device 11 is detected, the organicEL device 11 may be modulated by the modulating means 75 such that theintensity of the stimulating rays L may become equal to a predeterminedvalue.

[0685] The fifteenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention is not limited to the embodiments describedabove and may be embodied in various other ways. For example, in theembodiments described above, the red stimulating rays having wavelengthsfalling within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm are utilized. However, thestimulating rays are not limited to such stimulating rays and may beselected from those having wavelengths appropriate for the stimulationwavelength range for the stimulable phosphor sheet utilized.

[0686] For example, as the carrier transporting layer or light emissionlayer of the organic EL device, it is possible to utilize anthracenedielectrics, perylene dielectrics, azomethine-zinc complexes,N-arylbenzimidazole, beryllium and Sc complexes of 5-hydroxy-chromone,distyrylallylene dielectrics, and the like. In such cases, blue lightemission can be effected with the organic EL device, and therefore theblue light can be utilized as the stimulating rays.

[0687] Also, it is possible to utilize metal complexes such as Alq₃,coumarin dielectrics, quinacridone dielectrics,tris(2,4-pentadieno)-1,10-phenanthrolineterbium, naphthalimidedielectrics, coronene dielectrics, and the like. In such cases, the bluelight emitted by the organic EL device can be utilized as thestimulating rays. In cases where rubrene dielectrics are utilized,yellow light can be utilizedas the stimulating rays. However, thematerials are not limited to those described above. Also, dopingmaterials should preferably be utilized in order to enhance the lightemission efficiency.

[0688] Ordinarily, basic device structures of the organic EL deviceinclude DL-H, DL-E, and TL structures. However, the structures are notlimited to these structures and may be or may not be a laminatedstructure. As the production process, any of various processes, such asa vacuum evaporation process and casting process, may be employed.

[0689] The technique for utilizing the organic EL device as thestimulating ray source is not limited to the constitution utilizing theline light source and the line sensor and may be employed in variousradiation image read-out apparatuses for detecting the light emitted bya stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored.In such various apparatuses, the organic EL device may be utilized asthe stimulating ray source.

[0690] Embodiments of the seventeenth radiation image read-out apparatusin accordance with the present invention will be described hereinbelow.

[0691]FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of theseventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention. FIG. 45 is a side view showing the embodiment of FIG.44.

[0692] With reference to FIGS. 44 and 45, the radiation image read-outapparatus comprises the scanning belt 40 for supporting the sheet 50, onwhich a radiation image has been stored, and conveying the sheet 50 inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The radiation image read-outapparatus also comprises a broad area semiconductor laser (hereinbelowreferred to as the BLD) 11 for radiating out a linear laser beam Lhaving a linear pattern with a limb width of approximately 100 μm andhaving wavelengths falling within the range of 600 nm to 700 nm (or 500nm to 800 nm). The laser beam L is radiated out at an angle ofapproximately 45 degrees with respect to the front surface of the sheet50. The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the opticalsystem 12, which is constituted of a combination of a converging lensfor converging the linear laser beam L having been radiated out of theBLD 11 and a toric lens for expanding the beam only in one direction.The radiation image read-out apparatus still further comprises aconverging lens array (i.e., a lens comprising a plurality of arrayedconverging lenses) 13 for converging the emitted light M emitted by thesheet 50 stimulated by the laser beam L coming from the optical system12. The radiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the linesensor 20, which is constituted of a plurality of the arrayedphotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . for receiving the emittedlight M having been converged by the converging lens array 13. Theradiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the imageinformation reading means 30. The image information reading means 30reads outputs of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20 and feeds out an image signal, which ismade up of the outputs, into an image processing unit, or the like.

[0693] The converging lens array 13 converges the light M, which isemitted from the linear area of the sheet 50 exposed to the laser beamL, onto each of the light receiving surfaces of the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20. Theconverging lens array 13 has been subjected to coloring so as to havethe characteristics of the stimulating ray cut-off filter for filteringout the laser beam L and transmitting only the emitted light M.Therefore, the converging lens array 13 attenuates and blocks the laserbeam L, which has been reflected from the front surface of the sheet 50and is mixed in the emitted light M.

[0694] Further, the converging lens array 13 constitutes an imageforming optical system for forming an image (an erect equi-magnificationimage) of the emission area of the emitted light M on the sheet 50 inone-to-one size relationship on the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . No optical part, or thelike, is inserted between the sheet 50 and the converging lens array 13as well as between the converging lens array 13 and the line sensor 20.Therefore, the angular aperture (the numerical aperture) of eachconverging lens constituting the converging lens array 13 may be set tobe large, and the spacing between the sheet 50 and the converging lensarray 13 and the spacing between the converging lens array 13 and theline sensor 20 may be kept small. In this manner, the optical system forforming an erect equi-magnification image on each photoelectricconversion device 21 with a high light collecting efficiency and highresolution can be formed easily.

[0695] Each of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . .constituting the line sensor 20 has the light receiving surface having asize of approximately 100 μm×100 μm. Also, the magnification of theconverging lens array 13 constituting the image forming optical systemis equal to 1. Therefore, each photoelectric conversion device 21receives the light emitted from the site having a size of approximately100 μm×100 μm on the front surface of the sheet 50. As the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . amorphous silicon sensors, CCD imagesensors, MOS image sensors, or the like, may be employed.

[0696] How this embodiment of the seventeenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention operates will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0697] Firstly, the scanning belt 40 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow Y, and the sheet 50, on which the radiation image has beenstored and which is supported on the scanning belt 40, is conveyed inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. The conveyance speed of thesheet 50 is equal to the movement speed of the scanning belt 40.Information representing the movement speed of the scanning belt 40 isfed into the image information reading means 30.

[0698] The BLD 11 radiates out the laser beam L having a linear patternwith a line width of approximately 100 μm. The laser beam L is radiatedout at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the frontsurface of the sheet 50. The laser beam L is collected and expanded inone direction by the optical system 12, which is constituted of theconverging lens and the toric lens and is located in the optical path ofthe laser beam L. In this manner, the linear laser beam L (having a linewidth of approximately 100 μm) extending along the direction indicatedby the arrow X impinges upon the sheet 50.

[0699] The laser beam L impinging upon the sheet 50 is advantageous overthe fluorescence produced by a fluorescent lamp and light radiated outfrom an LED array in that the directivity of the stimulating rays ishigh, the intensity of the stimulating rays is high, and therefore highstimulation energy can be imparted to the stimulable phosphor sheet.Accordingly, the laser beam L can sufficiently stimulate the stimulablephosphor at the exposed area (having a line width of approximately 100μm). As a result, the light M of high intensity carrying the imageinformation stored on the sheet 50 is emitted by the stimulable phosphorat the exposed area. The image of the emission area of the light M onthe sheet 50 is formed on the light receiving surfaces of thephotoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . At this time, the laserbeam L, which has been reflected from the front surface of the sheet 50and is mixed in the emitted light M, is filtered out by the converginglens array 13.

[0700] The converging lens array 13 has been subjected to coloring so asto have the characteristics of the stimulating ray cut-off filter forfiltering out the laser beam L and transmitting only the emitted lightM. The filter characteristics are such that the light having wavelengthslonger than the wavelengths of the emitted light M is blocked as much aspossible (e.g., attenuated to an intensity of {fraction (1/10,000)} to{fraction (1/1,000,000)}), and light having short wavelengths istransmitted. For example, in cases where the converging lens array 13 isformed from a glass material, the coloring may be performed by adding apigment and forming a mixed crystal. In cases where the converging lensarray 13 is formed from a plastic material, the coloring may beperformed by adding a dye, or the like. In this manner, thecharacteristics equivalent to those described above can be obtained.

[0701] The emitted light M having converged by the converging lens array13 onto the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . isphotoelectrically converted into signal components Q, Q, . . . Thesignal components Q, Q, . . . are fed as an image signal S into theimage information reading means 30 and fed out into the image processingunit, or the like, such that it may be clear which signal component Qcorresponds to which site on the sheet 50.

[0702] As described above, with this embodiment of the seventeenthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the light guiding optical system having the filtercharacteristics for transmitting only the emitted light and blocking thestimulating rays is located between the sheet 50 and the line sensor 20.Therefore, it is not necessary for a particular stimulating ray cut-offfilter to be inserted in the light guiding optical system, and theconverging lens array 13 can be located at a position close to theemission area of the sheet 50. Accordingly, a converging lens arrayhaving a large angular aperture (a large numerical aperture) can beemployed. As a result, the intensity and the position of the lightemitted from the exposed area of the sheet can be detected with a highlight collecting efficiency and high resolution, and an image havinghigh sharpness can be obtained from the thus detected image signal.

[0703] As the converging lens array 13, it is possible to employ adistributed index lens array having a refractive index distribution inthe radial direction, a flat-plate microlens array utilizing threeflat-plate lenses having a refractive index distribution in the axialdirection, a spherical lens array constituted by combining a pluralityof spherical lenses, or the like.

[0704] A different embodiment of the seventeenth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0705]FIG. 46 is a side view showing the different embodiment of theseventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention. In this embodiment, a stimulable phosphor sheet 50′whose substrate is formed from a material permeable to the emitted lightM is employed. The stimulating rays are irradiated onto the frontsurface of the sheet 50′, and the emitted light is detected from theback surface of the sheet 50′.

[0706] Specifically, the radiation image read-out apparatus illustratedin FIG. 9 comprises the conveyor belt 40′ for supporting the leading endportion and the tail end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 50′and conveying the sheet 50′ in the direction indicated by the arrow Y.(No image information is stored at the leading end portion and the tailend portion of the sheet 50′, or image information representing a regionother than a region of interest in the radiation image is stored at theleading end portion and the tail end portion of the sheet 50′) Theradiation image read-out apparatus also comprises the BLD 11 forradiating out the linear laser beam L along the direction approximatelynormal to the front surface of the sheet 50′. The radiation imageread-out apparatus further comprises the optical system 12, which isconstituted of a combination of a converging lens for converging thelinear-laser beam L having been radiated out of the BLD 11 and a toriclens for expanding the beam only in one direction, and which causes thelinear laser beam L to impinge upon the front surface of the sheet 50′.The radiation image read-out apparatus still further comprises theconverging lens array 13 having an optical axis, which is approximatelynormal to the front surface of the sheet 50′. The converging lens array13 converges the light M′, which is emitted from the back surface of thesheet 50′ when the sheet 50′ is exposed to the laser beam L, onto thelight receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21,. . . constituting the line sensor 20. The radiation image read-outapparatus also comprises the line sensor 20, which is constituted of theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21, . . . forreceiving the emitted light M′ having been converged by the converginglens array 13 and for photoelectrically converting the emitted light M′.The radiation image read-out apparatus further comprises the imageinformation reading means 30. The image information reading means 30receives the signal components Q, Q, . . . from the photoelectricconversion devices 21, 21, . . . constituting the line sensor 20 andfeeds them into the image processing unit, or the like, such that it maybe clear which signal component Q corresponds to which site on the sheet50′. The other constitutions and the operation are the same as in theaforesaid embodiment of the seventeenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention.

[0707] As in the embodiment described above, the converging lens array13 comprises a plurality of arrayed image forming lenses for forming animage (an erect equi-magnification image) of the emission area of theemitted light M on the sheet 50 in one-to-one size relationship on thelight receiving surfaces of the photoelectric conversion devices 21, 21,. . . Also, the converging lens array 13 has the characteristics of astimulating ray cut-off filter for filtering out the laser beam Lserving as the stimulating rays and transmitting only the emitted lightM′.

[0708] With the constitution of FIG. 46, the light guiding opticalsystem for forming the image of the emission area of the emitted lightM′ can be located such that the optical axis may be normal to thesurface of the sheet 50′. Therefore, the converging lens array 13 can belocated at a position closer to the sheet 50′, and the angular aperture(the numerical aperture) can be set to be large. As a result, theintensity and the position of the light emitted from the exposed area ofthe sheet can be detected with a light collecting efficiency andresolution enhanced even further, and an image having high sharpness canbe obtained from the thus detected image signal.

[0709] A further different embodiment of the seventeenth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention will bedescribed hereinbelow.

[0710]FIG. 47 is a side view showing the further different embodiment ofthe seventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance withthe present invention. In this embodiment, the two embodiments of theseventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention are combined with each other. In this embodiment, astimulable phosphor sheet 50′ is employed, which emits light from thefront and back surfaces when the stimulating rays are irradiated to onesurface side. The emitted light M and the emitted light M′ are detectedrespectively from the front and back surfaces of the sheet 50′.

[0711] Specifically, when the linear laser beam L is irradiated from theBLD 11 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the frontsurface of the sheet 50′, the light M and the light M′ are emittedrespectively from the front and back surfaces of the sheet 50′. Theemitted light M is detected by the photoelectric conversion devices 21,21, . . . of the line sensor 20 located on the front surface side of thesheet 50′ and is converted into signal components Q, Q, . . . Theemitted light M′ is detected by the photoelectric conversion devices21′, 21′, . . . of the line sensor 20′ located on the back surface sideof the sheet 50′ and is converted into signal components Q′, Q′, . . .The signal components Q, Q, . . . and the signal components Q′, Q′, . .. are fed into the image information reading means 30. The imageinformation reading means 30 carries out signal processing in order toclarify which signal component Q corresponds to which site on the frontsurface of the sheet 50′ and to clarify which signal component Q′corresponds to which site on the back surface of the sheet 50′. Also,the image information reading means 30 performs addition processing onsignal components Q and Q′, which correspond to the light emitted froman identical site on the sheet 50′ to the front surface side and theback surface side. The image signal obtained from the additionprocessing is fed into the image processing unit, or the like. The otherconstitutions and the operation are the same as those in the aforesaidtwo embodiments of the seventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus inaccordance with the present invention.

[0712] With the embodiment of the seventeenth radiation image read-outapparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the emittedlight is detected from both the front and back surfaces of the sheet50′, the light collecting efficiency can be enhanced even further.

[0713] The seventeenth radiation image read-out apparatus in accordancewith the present invention is not limited to the embodiments describedabove and may be embodied in various other ways. For example, variousknown constitutions may be employed as the line light source, the linesensor, or the operation means. Also, the radiation image read-outapparatus may further comprise an image processing unit, which performsvarious kinds of signal processing on the image signal obtained from theimage information reading means, and/or erasing means for appropriatelyreleasing radiation energy remaining on the sheet from which the imagesignal has been detected.

[0714] Also, in the embodiments of the seventeenth radiation imageread-out apparatus in accordance with the present invention, theplurality of the photoelectric conversion devices of the line sensor 20or 20′ and the lenses constituting the converging lens array 13 may bearrayed in a matrix-like pattern such that they may stand in a straightline along each of the major axis direction and the minor axisdirection. Alternatively, the photoelectric conversion devices and thelenses may be arrayed such that they may stand in a straight line alongthe major axis direction and in a zigzag pattern along the minor axisdirection. As another alternative, the photoelectric conversion devicesand the lenses may be arrayed such that they may stand in a straightline along the major axis and may be arrayed obliquely with respect tothe minor axis direction.

[0715] As described above, with the embodiments of the seventeenthradiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the intensity and the position of the light emitted from theexposed area of the sheet can be detected with a high light collectingefficiency and high resolution, and an image having high sharpness canbe obtained from the thus detected image signal.

[0716]FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment ofthe radiation image read-out apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention. The embodiment of FIG. 48 is provided with endless belts 609a and 609 b, which are rotated by motors (not shown) and convey areference image storage sheet 603 or a stimulable phosphor sheet 604 inthe direction indicated by the arrow Y. An array light source 610, whichcomprises LED'arrayed linearly so as to radiate out linear stimulatingrays 611, is located above the endless belts 609 a and 609 b. In thisembodiment, as an aid in facilitating the explanation, the array lightsource 610 is located at the position spaced apart from the stimulablephosphor sheet 604. However, the array light source 610 and thestimulable phosphor sheet 604 should preferably be located close to eachother. A line sensor 614 for receiving emitted light 613 from below islocated under the position that is scanned with the linear stimulatingrays 611. The line sensor 614 extends in the-direction normal to thedirection of conveyance of the reference image storage sheet 603 and thestimulable phosphor sheet 604. The line sensor 614 is connected to ananalog-to-digital converter 617. The analog-to-digital converter 617 isconnected to operation means 618, and the operation means 618 isconnected to image processing means 619. The radiation image read-outapparatus also comprises a first memory 620, which stores a referenceimage signal A detected from the reference image storage sheet 603constituted of a stimulable phosphor sheet having been uniformly exposedto radiation in the manner described later, and a second memory 621 forstoring an image signal S detected from the stimulable phosphor sheet604, on which a radiation image has been stored.

[0717] The line sensor 614 comprises linearly arrayed solid-statephotoelectric conversion devices, such as photoconductors orphotodiodes. The signal component obtained from photoelectric conversionof the emitted light performed by each device represents one pixel. Thelight receiving surface of the line sensor 614 is provided with a filterfor filtering out the linear stimulating rays 611 and transmitting onlythe emitted light.

[0718] As illustrated in FIG. 48, the stimulable phosphor sheet 604 hastwo cut-away portions 604A, 604A, and the reference image storage sheet603 has two cut-away portions 603A, 603A. The positions of the cut-awayportions 604A, 604A and the cut-away portions 603A, 603A are detected bya position sensor 625 provided on the line sensor 614. As will bedescribed later, the positions of the cut-away portions 604A, 604A andthe cut-away portions 603A, 603A detected by the position sensor 625 aretaken as reference positions in shading compensation.

[0719] How this embodiment operations will be described hereinbelow.

[0720] Firstly, the reference image storage sheet 603 constituted of astimulable phosphor sheet having been uniformly exposed to radiation isset on the endless belts 609 a and 609 b. The reference image storagesheet 603 having been set at the predetermined position is conveyed bythe endless belts 609 a and 609 b in the direction (sub-scanningdirection) indicated by the arrow Y. Also, the linear stimulating rays611 radiated out from the array light source 610 impinges upon thereference image storage sheet 603 along the direction indicated by thearrow X, which is approximately normal to the sub-scanning direction(indicated by the arrow Y). When the reference image storage sheet 603is exposed to the linear stimulating rays 611, the exposed area emitslight 613 carrying the stored image information. The emitted light 613is received by the line sensor 614, and the intensity of the emittedlight 613 carrying the stored image information is converted by thesolid-stage photoelectric conversion devices, which constitute the linesensor 614, into an analog reference image signal A0. Further, thecut-away portions 603A, 603A of the reference image storage sheet 603are detected by the position sensor 625. The thus obtained positionsignal P is fed into the operation means 618.

[0721] The analog reference image signal A0, which has been obtainedfrom the line sensor 614, is fed into the analog-to-digital converter617 and converted into a digital reference image signal A. The referenceimage signal A is stored in the first memory 620. The reference imagesignal A has the signal wave form (the shading wave form) with anintensity distribution shown in FIG. 49 due to nonuniformity inirradiation of radiation to the stimulable phosphor sheet(two-dimensional nonuniformity), nonuniformity in sensitivity of thestimulable phosphor sheet (two-dimensional nonuniformity), nonuniformityin irradiation of the linear stimulating rays 611 (one-dimensionalnonuniformity), nonuniformity in efficiency of impingement of theemitted light 613 upon the line sensor 614 (one-dimensionalnonuniformity), nonuniformity in sensitivity of the line sensor 614(one-dimensional nonuniformity), and the like. In FIG. 49, as an aid infacilitating the explanation, the shading wave form is illustrated intwo-dimensional pattern. Actually, the shading wave form is inthree-dimensional pattern on the surface of the reference image storagesheet 603.

[0722] Thereafter, in the same manner as that described above, thestimulable phosphor sheet 604, on which a radiation image has beenstored, is set on the endless belts 609 a and 609 b and scanned with thelinear stimulating rays 611, and the radiation image is thereby readout. In the same manner as that in the reference image storage sheet603, the light 613, which is emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet604 scanned with the linear stimulating rays 611, is detected by theline sensor 614 and converted into an analog image signal S0. The analogimage signal S0 is fed into the analog-to-digital converter 617 andconverted into a digital image signal S. The digital image signal S isstored on the second memory 621. The image signal S has a wave formresulting from superposition of the image signal, which is to beobtained during the scanning of the stimulable phosphor sheet 604, uponthe wave form of the reference image signal A shown in FIG. 49.

[0723] Thereafter, the reference image signal A stored on the firstmemory 620 and the image signal S stored on the second memory 621 arefed into the operation means 618. The operation means 618 performs theoperation on signal components of the reference image signal A and theimage signal S, which signal components represent corresponding pixelson the reference image storage sheet 603 and the stimulable phosphorsheet 604. The operation is performed with Formula (2) shown below. Inthis manner, a corrected signal S1 is obtained from the shadingcompensation.

S1(x,y)=S(x,y)/A(x,y)  (2)

[0724] in which (x, y) represents the coordinates of the pixel.

[0725] The position signal P, which represents the positions of thecut-away portions 603A, 603A of the reference image storage sheet 603and the cut-away portions 604A, 604A of the stimulable phosphor sheet604, has been fed into the operation means 618. Position matching isperformed on the reference image signal A and the image signal S bytaking the position signal P as reference, and the operation withFormula (2) shown above is carried out.

[0726] The corrected signal S1 is fed into the image processing means619. In the image processing means 619, image processing is performed onthe corrected signal S1, and a processed image signal S′ is obtained.The processed image signal S′ is fed into image reproducing means (notshown) and utilized for reproducing a visible image. Alternatively, theprocessed image signal S′ is stored on storage means (not shown). Theimage reproduced from the processed image signal S′ is free from imagedensity nonuniformity due to nonuniformity in irradiation of radiation,nonuniformity in sensitivity of the stimulable phosphor sheet,nonuniformity in irradiation of the linear stimulating rays 611,nonuniformity in efficiency of impingement of the emitted light 613 uponthe line sensor 614, nonuniformity in sensitivity of the line sensor614, and the like. Therefore, the image has good image quality and canserve as an effective tool in, particularly, the efficient and accuratediagnosis of an illness.

[0727] In this embodiment, the image signal S is obtained by reading outthe radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet 604 and isstored on the second memory 621. Thereafter, shading compensation isperformed by the operation means 618. Alternatively, while the radiationimage is being read out from the stimulable phosphor sheet 604, theoperation with Formula (2) shown above may be performed on the real timebasis on the signal components of the image signal S that is beingobtained and of the reference image signal A, which signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the stimulable phosphor sheet 604 andthe reference image storage sheet 603. In such cases, the operation withFormula (2) shown above may be performed for each pixel or for onescanning line. In cases where the corrected signal S1 is obtained inthis manner, the second memory 621 becomes unnecessary, and theapparatus constitution can be kept simple. Also, since it is unnecessaryfor the image signal S to be stored on the second memory 621, thecorrected signal S1 can be obtained quickly.

[0728] In this embodiment, the radiation image stored on the stimulablephosphor sheet is read out. However, this embodiment is also applicablewhen a radiation image recorded on X-ray film is read out and when otherkinds of images are read out.

[0729] Also, in this embodiment, the linear stimulating rays 611produced by the array light source 610 is irradiated to the referenceimage storage sheet 603 and the stimulable phosphor sheet 604.Alternatively, one of other kinds of light sources may be employed. Forexample, the linear stimulating rays may be formed by a combination of adivergent light source and a slit.

[0730] Further, in this embodiment, the position matching of pixelsrepresented by the reference image signal A and the image signal S isperformed by utilizing the cut-away portions 603A, 603A of the referenceimage storage sheet 603 and the cut-away portions 604A, 604A of thestimulable phosphor sheet 604. Alternatively, in lieu of the cut-awayportions 603A, 603A and the cut-away portions 604A, 604A, the referenceimage storage sheet 603 and the stimulable phosphor sheet 604 may beprovided with holes, optical markers, or the like, and the positionmatching of the reference image signal A and the image signal S maythereby be effected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiation image read-out method, comprising thesteps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear areaof the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to thelinear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along each of alength direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheetand a direction normal to said length direction, the received lightbeing subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by said linesensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to saidline light source and said line sensor and in a direction different fromsaid length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet, iv) successively reading outputs of said line sensor inaccordance with said movement, and v) performing operation processing onthe outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices, which outputs havebeen obtained at respective positions of movement and correspond to anidentical site on the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 2. A method as definedin claim 1 wherein said line sensor comprises a plurality of sensorchips arrayed in a straight line along said length direction of saidlinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 3. A method as defined inclaim 1 wherein said line sensor comprises a plurality of sensor chipsarrayed in a zigzag pattern along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 4. A method as defined in claim 2or 3 wherein each of said sensor chips comprises a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed in two-dimensional directions.5. A method as defined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein said line lightsource is a broad area laser, which linearly radiates out thestimulating rays.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 whereinthe linear stimulating rays are guided with stimulating ray guidingmeans to the area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the light, which isemitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet, is guided with emitted lightguiding means to said line sensor, and at least part of an optical pathof the stimulating rays from said line light source to the stimulablephosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of the emitted lightfrom the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap eachother.
 7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein at least part ofoptical elements, which constitute said stimulating ray guiding means,and at least part of optical elements, which constitute said emittedlight guiding means, are utilized in common with each other.
 8. A methodas defined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein a light emission region of thestimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflectingpartition member, which extends in a thickness direction of thestimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 9. A methodas defined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein the stimulable phosphor sheetis capable of emitting light from the front and back surfaces, two linesensors are utilized, each of which is located on one of the front andback surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said two linesensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made up of aseries of image signal components representing pixels in the radiationimage, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and operation processing-is performed on image signal componentsof said two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein two linelight sources are utilized, each of which is located on one of the frontand back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 11. A method asdefined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet iscapable of emitting light from the front and back surfaces, afterdetection of the emitted light from one of the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, said line sensor isshifted by sensor shifting means to the opposite surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensor thereby detecting two imagesignals, each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and operation processing isperformed on image signal components of said two image signals, whichimage signal components represent corresponding pixels on the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 12. A method as definedin claim 11 wherein said sensor shifting means shifts both said linesensor and said line light source to the opposite surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet.
 13. A method as defined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emitting light fromthe front and back surfaces, after detection of the emitted light fromone of the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet hasbeen finished, the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet are reversed by sheet reversing means, said line sensor therebydetecting two image signals, each of which is made up of a series ofimage signal components representing pixels in the radiation image, fromthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andoperation processing is performed on image signal components of said twoimage signals, which image signal components represent correspondingpixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.14. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein a light emission region ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating rayreflecting partition member, which extends in a thickness direction ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 15. Amethod as defined in claim 11 wherein a light emission region of thestimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray-reflectingpartition member, which extends in a thickness direction of thestimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 16. A methodas defined in claim 13 wherein a light emission region of the stimulablephosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember, which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulablephosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 17. A method as definedin claim 9 wherein, in cases where said line light source and said linesensor are located on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphorsheet, at least part of an optical path of the stimulating rays fromsaid line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and at leastpart of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 18. A method asdefined in claim 11 wherein, in cases where said line light source andsaid line sensor are located on the same surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path of the stimulating raysfrom said line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and atleast part of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 19. A method asdefined in claim 13 wherein, in cases where said line light source andsaid line sensor are located on the same surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path of the stimulating raysfrom said line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and atleast part of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 20. A method asdefined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is astimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, whichstores two radiation images of a single object formed with radiationhaving different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheetbeing capable of emitting light, which carries information of one of thetwo radiation images, from the front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from the back surface,two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on one of thefront and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said twoline sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made up of aseries of image signal components representing pixels in the radiationimage, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and a subtraction process is performed on image signal componentsof said two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 21. A method as defined in claim 20 wherein two linelight sources are utilized, each of which is located on one of the frontand back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 22. A method asdefined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is astimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, whichstores two radiation images of a single object formed with radiationhaving different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheetbeing capable of emitting light, which carries information of one of thetwo radiation images, from the front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from the back surface,after detection of the emitted light from one of the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, said linesensor is shifted by sensor shifting means to the opposite surface sideof the stimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensor thereby detecting twoimage signals, each of which is made up of a series of image signalcomponents representing pixels in the radiation image, from the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a subtractionprocess is performed on image signal components of said two imagesignals, which image signal components represent corresponding pixels onthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 23. Amethod as defined in claim 22 wherein said sensor shifting means shiftsboth said line sensor and said line light source to the opposite surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 24. A method as defined in claim1 , 2 , or 3 wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulablephosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, which stores tworadiation images of a single object formed with radiation havingdifferent energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet beingcapable of emitting light, which carries information of one of the tworadiation images, from the front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from the back surface,after detection of the emitted light from one of the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet are reversed by sheetreversing means, said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals,each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a subtraction process isperformed on image signal components of said two image signals, whichimage signal components represent corresponding pixels on the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 25. A method as definedin claim 20 wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphorsheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member,which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet,into a plurality of fine cells.
 26. A method as defined in claim 22wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet ispartitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member, whichextends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, intoa plurality of fine cells.
 27. A method as defined in claim 24 wherein alight emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned bya stimulating ray reflecting partition member, which extends in athickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a pluralityof fine cells.
 28. A method as defined in claim 20 wherein, in caseswhere said line light source and said line sensor are located on thesame surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part of anoptical path of the stimulating rays from said line light source to thestimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of theemitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 29. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein, incases where said line light source and said line sensor are located onthe same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part ofan optical path of the stimulating rays from said line light source tothe stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path ofthe emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 30. A method as defined in claim 24 wherein, incases where said line light source and said line sensor are located onthe same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part ofan optical path of the stimulating rays from said line light source tothe stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path ofthe emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 31. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said areasensor is a back illuminated type of CCD image sensor.
 32. A method asdefined in claim 31 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor comprises a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor chips arrayed in a straight line along said length direction ofsaid linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 33. A method asdefined in claim 31 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor comprises a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor chips arrayed in a zigzag pattern along said length direction ofsaid linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 34. A method asdefined in claim 32 or 33 wherein each of said back illuminated type ofCCD image sensor chips comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed in two-dimensional directions.
 35. A method as definedin claim 31 , 32 , or 33 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor is cooled with cooling means.
 36. A method as defined in claim 1, 2 , or 3 wherein said line light source is constituted of an organicEL device.
 37. A method as defined in claim 1 , 2 , or 3 wherein thelight, which is emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet, is guided withlight guiding optical system to the line sensor, the stimulable phosphorsheet is moved with respect to said line light source, said lightguiding optical system, and said line sensor and in the directiondifferent from said length direction of said linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and said light guiding optical system hasbeen subjected to coloring for transmitting only the emitted light andfiltering out the stimulating rays.
 38. A radiation image read-outmethod, comprising the steps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulatingrays, which have been produced by a line light source, onto an area of afront surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation, ii) receiving light, which is emittedfrom the linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of aback surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to saidlinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, witha line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulablephosphor sheet with respect to said line light source and said linesensor and in a direction different from a length direction of saidlinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) successivelyreading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices of said linesensor in accordance with said movement, wherein said line light sourceis a broad area laser, which linearly radiates out the stimulating rays.39. A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of: i)linearly radiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by a linelight source, ii) guiding the linear stimulating rays to an area of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,with stimulating ray guiding means, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, iii) guidinglight, which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with emitted light guidingmeans to a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) receiving the emitted light withsaid line sensor, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by said line sensor, v) moving the stimulablephosphor sheet with respect to said line light source and said linesensor and in a direction different from the length direction of saidlinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and vi) successivelyreading outputs of said line sensor in accordance with said movement,wherein at least part of an optical path of the stimulating rays fromsaid line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and at leastpart of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 40. A method asdefined in claim 39 wherein at least part of optical elements, whichconstitute said stimulating ray guiding means, and at least part ofoptical elements, which constitute said emitted light guiding means, areutilized in common with each other.
 41. A radiation image read-outmethod,comprising the steps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulatingrays, which have been produced by a line light source, onto an area of afront surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation, ii) receiving light, which is emittedfrom the linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of aback surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to saidlinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, witha line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulablephosphor sheet with respect to said line light source and said linesensor and in a direction different from said length direction of saidlinear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) successivelyreading outputs of said line sensor in accordance with said movement,wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet ispartitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member, whichextends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, intoa plurality of fine cells.
 42. A radiation image read-out method,comprising the steps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, whichhave been produced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays,with a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed along a length direction of said linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet, the received light being subjected tophotoelectric conversion performed by said line sensor, iii) moving thestimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source andsaid line sensor, and iv) reading outputs of said photoelectricconversion devices constituting said line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement, wherein the stimulablephosphor sheet is capable of emitting light from front and backsurfaces, two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on oneof the front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet,said two line sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is madeup of a series of image signal components representing pixels in theradiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and operation processing is performed on image signalcomponents of said two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet.
 43. A method as defined in claim 42 whereintwo line light sources are utilized, each of which is located on one ofthe front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 44. Aradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of: i) linearlyirradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by a line lightsource, onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which aradiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receivinglight, which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a line sensorcomprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed alonga length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performedby said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to said line light source and said line sensor, and iv) readingoutputs of said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said linesensor, which outputs are obtained at respective positions of movement,wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emitting light fromfront and back surfaces, after detection of the emitted light from oneof the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, said line sensor is shifted by sensor shifting means to theopposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensorthereby detecting two image signals, each of which is made up of aseries of image signal components representing pixels in the radiationimage, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and operation processing is performed on image signal componentsof said two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 45. A method as defined in claim 44 wherein said sensorshifting means shifts both said line sensor and said line light sourceto the opposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 46. Aradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of: i) linearlyirradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by a line lightsource, onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which aradiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receivinglight, which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a line sensorcomprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed alonga length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performedby said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to said line light source and said line sensor, and iv) readingoutputs of said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said linesensor, which outputs are obtained at respective positions of movement,wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emitting light fromfront and back surfaces, after detection of the emitted light from oneof the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheetare reversed by sheet reversing means, said line sensor therebydetecting two image signals, each of which is made up of a series ofimage signal components representing pixels in the radiation image, fromthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andoperation processing is performed on image signal components of said twoimage signals, which image signal components represent correspondingpixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.47. A method as defined in any of claims 42 to 46 wherein a lightemission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by astimulating ray reflecting partition member, which extends in athickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a pluralityof fine cells.
 48. A method as defined in any of claims 42 to 46wherein, in cases where said line light source and said line sensor arelocated on the same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, atleast part of an optical path of the stimulating rays from said linelight source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of anoptical path of the emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet tosaid line sensor overlap each other.
 49. A radiation image read-outmethod, comprising the steps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulatingrays, which have been produced by a line light source, onto an area of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays,with a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversiondevices arrayed along a length direction of said linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet, the received light being subjected tophotoelectric conversion performed by said line sensor, iii) moving thestimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source andsaid line sensor, and iv) reading outputs of said photoelectricconversion devices constituting said line sensor, which outputs areobtained at respective positions of movement, wherein the stimulablephosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtractionprocessing, which stores two radiation images of a single object formedwith radiation having different energy distributions, the stimulablephosphor sheet being capable of emitting light, which carriesinformation of one of the two radiation images, from a front surface,and emitting light, which carries information of the other radiationimage, from a back surface, two line sensors are utilized, each of whichis located on one of the front and back surface sides of the stimulablephosphor sheet, said two line sensors detecting two image signals, eachof which is made up of a series of image signal components representingpixels in the radiation image, from the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and a subtraction process is performed onimage signal components of said two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 50. A method as defined in claim 49wherein two line light sources are utilized, each of which is located onone of the front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphorsheet.
 51. A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by aline light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on whicha radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receivinglight, which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a line sensorcomprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed alonga length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performedby said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to said line light source and said line sensor, and iv) readingoutputs of said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said linesensor, which outputs are obtained at respective positions of movement,wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet forenergy subtraction processing, which stores two radiation images of asingle object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface, after detection of theemitted light from one of the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet has been finished, said line sensor is shifted by sensorshifting means to the opposite surface side of the stimulable phosphorsheet, said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals, each ofwhich is made up of a series of image signal components representingpixels in the radiation image, from the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and a subtraction process is performed onimage signal components of said two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 52. A method as defined in claim 51wherein said sensor shifting means shifts both said line sensor and saidline light source to the opposite surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 53. A radiation image read-out method, comprising thesteps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a stimulable phosphorsheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rayscausing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to anamount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii)receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by said line sensor, iii) moving the stimulablephosphor sheet with respect to said line light source and said linesensor, and iv) reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting said line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement, wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is astimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, whichstores two radiation images of a single object formed with radiationhaving different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheetbeing capable of emitting light, which carries information of one of thetwo radiation images, from a front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from a back surface,after detection of the emitted light from one of the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet are reversed by sheetreversing means, said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals,each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a subtraction process isperformed on image signal components of said two image signals, whichimage signal components represent corresponding pixels on the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 54. A method as definedin any of claims 49 to 53 wherein a light emission region of thestimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflectingpartition member, which extends in a thickness direction of thestimulable phosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 55. A methodas defined in any of claims 49 to 53 wherein, in cases where said linelight source and said line sensor are located on the same surface sideof the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path ofthe stimulating rays from said line light source to the stimulablephosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of the emitted lightfrom the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap eachother.
 56. A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by aline light source, onto an area of a front surface of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area ofthe front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a lengthdirection of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thereceived light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed bysaid line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respectto said line light source and said line sensor and in a directiondifferent from a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and iv) successively reading outputs of saidphotoelectric conversion devices of said line sensor in accordance withsaid movement, wherein said line sensor is a back illuminated type ofCCD image sensor.
 57. A method as defined in claim 56 wherein said backilluminated type of CCD image sensor comprises a plurality of backilluminated type of CCD image sensor chips arrayed in a straight linealong said length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 58. A method as defined in claim 56 wherein said backilluminated type of CCD image sensor comprises a plurality of backilluminated type of CCD image sensor chips arrayed in a zigzag patternalong said length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 59. A method as defined in claim 56 , 57 , or 58 whereinsaid back illuminated type of CCD image sensor is cooled with coolingmeans.
 60. A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by aline light source, onto an area of a front surface of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area ofthe front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with a line sensor comprisinga plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a lengthdirection of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, thereceived light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed bysaid line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respectto said line light source and said line sensor and in a directiondifferent from a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and iv) successively reading outputs of saidphotoelectric conversion devices of said line sensor in accordance withsaid movement, wherein said line light source is constituted of anorganic EL device.
 61. A radiation image read-out method, comprising thesteps of: i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays, which have beenproduced by a line light source, onto an area of a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, ii) guiding light, which is emitted from the linear areaof the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to thelinear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said linear area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with light guiding opticalsystem to a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) receiving the emitted light withsaid line sensor, the received light being subjected to photoelectricconversion performed by said line sensor, and iv) moving the stimulablephosphor sheet with respect to said line light source, said lightguiding optical system, and said line sensor and in a directiondifferent from a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, wherein said light guiding optical system has beensubjected to coloring for transmitting only the emitted light andfiltering out the stimulating rays.
 62. A radiation image read-outmethod, comprising the steps of: i) irradiating stimulating rays, whichhave been produced by a surface light source, onto a front surface of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the area of thefront surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to thestimulating rays or from an area of a back surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet corresponding to said area of the front surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet, with an area sensor comprising a plurality ofarrayed photoelectric conversion devices, the received light beingsubjected to photoelectric conversion performed by said area sensor, andiii) reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting said area sensor, wherein said area sensor is a backilluminated type of CCD image sensor.
 63. A method as defined in claim62 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD image sensor comprises aplurality of arrayed back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chips.64. A method as defined in claim 63 wherein each of said backilluminated type of CCD image sensor chips comprises a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed in two-dimensional directions.65. A method as defined in claim 62 , 63 , or 64 wherein said backilluminated type of CCD image sensor is cooled with cooling means.
 66. Aradiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of: i) irradiatingstimulating rays, which have been produced by a surface light source,onto a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which aradiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receivinglight, which is emitted from the area of the front surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating rays or from anarea of a back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding tosaid area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, with anarea sensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversiondevices, the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversionperformed by said area sensor, and iii) reading outputs of saidphotoelectric conversion devices constituting said area sensor, whereinsaid surface light source is constituted of an organic EL device.
 67. Aradiation image read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a line light sourcefor linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a frontsurface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image hasbeen stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheetto emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon duringits exposure to radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, whichis emitted from the linear area of the front surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a lineararea of a back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding tosaid linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet,and performing photoelectric conversion of the received light, said linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along each of a length direction of said linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet and a direction normal to said lengthdirection, iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheetwith respect to said line light source and said line sensor and in adirection different from said length direction of said linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) reading means for successivelyreading outputs of said line sensor in accordance with said movement,said reading means being provided with operation means for performingoperation processing on the outputs of said photoelectric conversiondevices, which outputs have been obtained at respective positions ofmovement performed by said scanning means and correspond to an identicalsite on the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 68. An apparatus as defined inclaim 67 wherein said line sensor comprises a plurality of sensor chipsarrayed in a straight line along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 69. An apparatus as defined inclaim 67 wherein said line sensor comprises a plurality of sensor chipsarrayed in a zigzag pattern along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 70. An apparatus as defined inclaim 68 or 69 wherein each of said sensor chips comprises a pluralityof photoelectric conversion devices arrayed in two-dimensionaldirections.
 71. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 whereinsaid line light source is a broad area laser, which linearly radiatesout the stimulating rays.
 72. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 ,or 69 wherein the apparatus further comprises stimulating ray guidingmeans for guiding the linear stimulating rays to the area of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and emitted light guiding means for guidingthe light, which is emitted from said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, to said line sensor, and at least part of an opticalpath of the stimulating rays from said line light source to thestimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of theemitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 73. An apparatus as defined in claim 72 wherein atleast part of optical elements, which constitute said stimulating rayguiding means, and at least part of optical elements, which constitutesaid emitted light guiding means, are utilized in common with eachother.
 74. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein alight emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned bya stimulating ray reflecting partition member, which extends in athickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a pluralityof fine cells.
 75. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emitting light fromthe front and back surfaces, two line sensors are utilized, each ofwhich is located on one of the front and back surface sides of thestimulable phosphor sheet, said two line sensors detecting two imagesignals, each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and said reading meansperforms operation processing on image signal components of said twoimage signals, which image signal components represent correspondingpixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.76. An apparatus as defined in claim 75 wherein two line light sourcesare utilized, each of which is located on one of the front and backsurface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 77. An apparatus asdefined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein the stimulable phosphor sheetis capable of emitting light from the front and back surfaces, theapparatus further comprises sensor shifting means for operating suchthat, after detection of the emitted light from one of the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, saidsensor shifting means shifts said line sensor to the opposite surfaceside of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensor therebydetecting two image signals, each of which is made up of a series ofimage signal components representing pixels in the radiation image, fromthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and saidreading means performs operation processing on image signal componentsof said two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 78. An apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein saidsensor shifting means shifts both said line sensor and said line lightsource to the opposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.79. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein thestimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emitting light from the frontand back surfaces, the apparatus further comprises sheet reversing meansfor operating such that, after detection of the emitted light from oneof the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, said sheet reversing means reverses the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensor therebydetecting two image signals, each of which is made up of a series ofimage signal components representing pixels in the radiation image, fromthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and saidreading means performs operation processing on image signal componentsof said two image signals, which image signal components representcorresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 80. An apparatus as defined in claim 75 wherein a lightemission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by astimulating ray reflecting partition member, which extends in athickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a pluralityof fine cells.
 81. An apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein a lightemission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by astimulating ray reflecting partition member, which extends in athickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a pluralityof fine cells.
 82. An apparatus as defined in claim 79 wherein a lightemission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet is partitioned by astimulating ray reflecting partition member, which extends in athickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, into a pluralityof fine cells.
 83. An apparatus as defined in claim 75 wherein, in caseswhere said line light source and said line sensor are located on thesame surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part of anoptical path of the stimulating rays from said line light source to thestimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of theemitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 84. An apparatus as defined in claim 77 wherein, incases where said line light source and said line sensor are located onthe same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part ofan optical path of the stimulating rays from said line light source tothe stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path ofthe emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 85. An apparatus as defined in claim 79 wherein, incases where said line light source and said line sensor are located onthe same surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part ofan optical path of the stimulating rays from said line light source tothe stimulable phosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path ofthe emitted light from the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensoroverlap each other.
 86. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet forenergy subtraction processing, which stores two radiation images of asingle object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from the front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from the back surface, two line sensors areutilized, each of which is located on one of the front and back surfacesides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said two line sensors detectingtwo image signals, each of which is made up of a series of image signalcomponents representing pixels in the radiation image, from the frontand back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and said readingmeans is provided with means for performing a subtraction process onimage signal components of said two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 87. An apparatus as defined in claim86 wherein two line light sources are utilized, each of which is locatedon one of the front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphorsheet.
 88. An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein thestimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet for energysubtraction processing, which stores two radiation images of a singleobject formed with radiation having different energy distributions, thestimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emitting light, which carriesinformation of one of the two radiation images, from the front surface,and emitting light, which carries information of the other radiationimage, from the back surface, the apparatus further comprises sensorshifting means for operating such that, after detection of the emittedlight from one of the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet has been finished, said sensor shifting means shifts said linesensor to the opposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet,said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals, each of which ismade up of a series of image signal components representing pixels inthe radiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and said reading means is provided with means forperforming a subtraction process on image signal components of said twoimage signals, which image signal components represent correspondingpixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.89. An apparatus as defined in claim 88 wherein said sensor shiftingmeans shifts both said line sensor and said line light source to theopposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 90. An apparatusas defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein the stimulable phosphorsheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing,which stores two radiation images of a single object formed withradiation having different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphorsheet being capable of emitting light, which carries information of oneof the two radiation images, from the front surface, and emitting light,which carries information of the other radiation image, from the backsurface, the apparatus further comprises sheet reversing means foroperating such that, after detection of the emitted light from one ofthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has beenfinished, said sheet reversing means reverses the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensor therebydetecting two image signals, each of which is made up of a series ofimage signal components representing pixels in the radiation image, fromthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and saidreading means is provided with means for performing a subtractionprocess on image signal components of said two image signals, whichimage signal components represent corresponding pixels on the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 91. An apparatus asdefined in claim 86 wherein a light emission region of the stimulablephosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember, which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulablephosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 92. An apparatus asdefined in claim 88 wherein a light emission region of the stimulablephosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember, which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulablephosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 93. An apparatus asdefined in claim 90 wherein a light emission region of the stimulablephosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember, which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulablephosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 94. An apparatus asdefined in claim 86 wherein, in cases where said line light source andsaid line sensor are located on the same surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path of the stimulating raysfrom said line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and atleast part of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 95. An apparatusas defined in claim 88 wherein, in cases where said line light sourceand said line sensor are located on the same surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path of thestimulating rays from said line light source to the stimulable phosphorsheet and at least part of an optical path of the emitted light from thestimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 96. Anapparatus as defined in claim 90 wherein, in cases where said line lightsource and said line sensor are located on the same surface side of thestimulable phosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path of thestimulating rays from said line light source to the stimulable phosphorsheet and at least part of an optical path of the emitted light from thestimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 97. Anapparatus as defined in claim 67 wherein said area sensor is a backilluminated type of CCD image sensor.
 98. An apparatus as defined inclaim 97 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD image sensorcomprises a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chipsarrayed in a straight line along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 99. An apparatus as defined inclaim 97 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD image sensorcomprises a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chipsarrayed in a zigzag pattern along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 100. An apparatus as defined inclaim 98 or 99 wherein each of said back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor chips comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed in two-dimensional directions.
 101. An apparatus as defined inclaim 97 , 98 , or 99 wherein the apparatus further comprises coolingmeans for cooling said back illuminated type of CCD image sensor. 102.An apparatus as defined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein said line lightsource is constituted of an organic EL device.
 103. An apparatus asdefined in claim 67 , 68 , or 69 wherein the apparatus further compriseslight guiding optical system for guiding the light, which is emitted bythe stimulable phosphor sheet, to the line sensor, said scanning meansmoves the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line lightsource, said light guiding optical system, and said line sensor, andsaid light guiding optical system has been subjected to coloring fortransmitting only the emitted light and filtering out the stimulatingrays.
 104. A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a linelight source for linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of afront surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation imagehas been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphorsheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereonduring its exposure to radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light,which is emitted from the linear area of the front surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or froma linear area of a back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetcorresponding to said linear area of the front surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and performing photoelectric conversion of the receivedlight, said line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving thestimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source andsaid line sensor and in a direction different from a length direction ofsaid linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) reading meansfor successively reading outputs of said photoelectric conversiondevices of said line sensor in accordance with said movement, whereinsaid line light source is a broad area laser, which linearly radiatesout the stimulating rays.
 105. A radiation image read-out apparatus,comprising: i) a line light source for linearly radiating stimulatingrays, which have been produced by a line light source, ii) stimulatingray guiding means for guiding the linear stimulating rays to an area ofa stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, iii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emittedfrom the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to thelinear stimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, said line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) emitted light guiding means forguiding the light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, tosaid line sensor, v) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphorsheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor and ina direction different from the length direction of said linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, and vi) reading means for successivelyreading outputs of said line sensor in accordance with said movement,wherein at least part of an optical path of the stimulating rays fromsaid line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and at leastpart of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 106. An apparatusas defined in claim 105 wherein at least part of optical elements, whichconstitute said stimulating ray guiding means, and at least part ofoptical elements, which constitute said emitted light guiding means, areutilized in common with each other.
 107. A radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising: i) a line light source for linearly irradiatingstimulating rays onto an area of a front surface of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted fromthe linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, said linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphorsheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor and ina direction different from said length direction of said linear area ofthe stimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) reading means for successivelyreading outputs of said line sensor in accordance with said movement,wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphor sheet ispartitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member, whichextends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, intoa plurality of fine cells.
 108. A radiation image read-out apparatus,comprising: i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulatingrays onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiationimage has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulablephosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy storedthereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) a line sensor forreceiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, and performingphotoelectric conversion of the received light, said line sensorcomprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed alonga length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet withrespect to said line light source and said line sensor, and iv) readingmeans for reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting said line sensor, which outputs are obtained at respectivepositions of movement performed by said scanning means, wherein thestimulable phosphor sheet is capable of emitting light from front andback surfaces, two line sensors are utilized, each of which is locatedon one of the front and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphorsheet, said two line sensors detecting two image signals, each of whichis made up of a series of image signal components representing pixels inthe radiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and said reading means performs operation processing onimage signal components of said two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 109. An apparatus as defined in claim108 wherein two line light sources are utilized, each of which islocated on one of the front and back surface sides of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 110. A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto anarea of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has beenstored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet toemit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon duringits exposure to radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, whichis emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposedto the linear stimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversionof the received light, said line sensor comprising a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a length direction ofsaid linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) scanning meansfor moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line lightsource and said line sensor, and iv) reading means for reading outputsof said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said line sensor,which outputs are obtained at respective positions of movement performedby said scanning means, wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capableof emitting light from front and back surfaces, the apparatus furthercomprises sensor shifting means for operating such that, after detectionof the emitted light from one of the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, said sensor shifting meansshifts said line sensor to the opposite surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals,each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and said reading meansperforms operation processing on image signal components of said twoimage signals, which image signal components represent correspondingpixels on the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.111. An apparatus as defined in claim 110 wherein said sensor shiftingmeans shifts both said line sensor and said line light source to theopposite surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 112. A radiationimage read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a line light source forlinearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted fromthe linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linearstimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, said line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving thestimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source andsaid line sensor, and iv) reading means for reading outputs of saidphotoelectric conversion devices constituting said line sensor, whichoutputs are obtained at respective positions of movement performed bysaid scanning means, wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is capable ofemitting light from front and back surfaces, the apparatus furthercomprises sheet reversing means for operating such that, after detectionof the emitted light from one of the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, said sheet reversing meansreverses the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet,said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals, each of which ismade up of a series of image signal components representing pixels inthe radiation image, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulablephosphor sheet, and said reading means performs operation processing onimage signal components of said two image signals, which image signalcomponents represent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfacesof the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 113. An apparatus as defined in any ofclaims 108 to 112 wherein a light emission region of the stimulablephosphor sheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partitionmember, which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulablephosphor sheet, into a plurality of fine cells.
 114. An apparatus asdefined in any of claims 108 to 112 wherein, in cases where said linelight source and said line sensor are located on the same surface sideof the stimulable phosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path ofthe stimulating rays from said line light source to the stimulablephosphor sheet and at least part of an optical path of the emitted lightfrom the stimulable phosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap eachother.
 115. A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a linelight source for linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of astimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emittedfrom the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to thelinear stimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of thereceived light, said line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectricconversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving thestimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source andsaid line sensor, and iv) reading means for reading outputs of saidphotoelectric conversion devices constituting said line sensor, whichoutputs are obtained at respective positions of movement performed bysaid scanning means, wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is astimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, whichstores two radiation images of a single object formed with radiationhaving different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheetbeing capable of emitting light, which carries information of one of thetwo radiation images, from a front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from a back surface,two line sensors are utilized, each of which is located on one of thefront and back surface sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet, said twoline sensors detecting two image signals, each of which is made up of aseries of image signal components representing pixels in the radiationimage, from the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphorsheet, and said reading means is provided with means for performing asubtraction process on image signal components of said two imagesignals, which image signal components represent corresponding pixels onthe front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 116. Anapparatus as defined in claim 115 wherein two line light sources areutilized, each of which is located on one of the front and back surfacesides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 117. A radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising: i) a line light source for linearly irradiatingstimulating rays onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which aradiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing thestimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount ofenergy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) a linesensor for receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, said linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphorsheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor, andiv) reading means for reading outputs of said photoelectric conversiondevices constituting said line sensor, which outputs are obtained atrespective positions of movement performed by said scanning means,wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet forenergy subtraction processing, which stores two radiation images of asingle object formed with radiation having different energydistributions, the stimulable phosphor sheet being capable of emittinglight, which carries information of one of the two radiation images,from a front surface, and emitting light, which carries information ofthe other radiation image, from a back surface, the apparatus furthercomprises sensor shifting means for operating such that, after detectionof the emitted light from one of the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, said sensor shifting meansshifts said line sensor to the opposite surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, said line sensor thereby detecting two image signals,each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and said reading means isprovided with means for performing a subtraction process on image signalcomponents of said two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet.
 118. An apparatus as defined in claim 117wherein said sensor shifting means shifts both said line sensor and saidline light source to the opposite surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet.
 119. A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto anarea of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has beenstored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet toemit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon duringits exposure to radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, whichis emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposedto the linear stimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversionof the received light, said line sensor comprising a plurality ofphotoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a length direction ofsaid linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) scanning meansfor moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line lightsource and said line sensor, and iv) reading means for reading outputsof said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said line sensor,which outputs are obtained at respective positions of movement performedby said scanning means, wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet is astimulable phosphor sheet for energy subtraction processing, whichstores two radiation images of a single object formed with radiationhaving different energy distributions, the stimulable phosphor sheetbeing capable of emitting light, which carries information of one of thetwo radiation images, from a front surface, and emitting light, whichcarries information of the other radiation image, from a back surface,the apparatus further comprises sheet reversing means for operating suchthat, after detection of the emitted light from one of the front andback surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet has been finished, saidsheet reversing means reverses the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet, said line sensor thereby detecting two imagesignals, each of which is made up of a series of image signal componentsrepresenting pixels in the radiation image, from the front and backsurfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and said reading means isprovided with means for performing a subtraction process on image signalcomponents of said two image signals, which image signal componentsrepresent corresponding pixels on the front and back surfaces of thestimulable phosphor sheet.
 120. An apparatus as defined in any of claims115 to 119 wherein a light emission region of the stimulable phosphorsheet is partitioned by a stimulating ray reflecting partition member,which extends in a thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet,into a plurality of fine cells.
 121. An apparatus as defined in any ofclaims 115 to 119 wherein, in cases where said line light source andsaid line sensor are located on the same surface side of the stimulablephosphor sheet, at least part of an optical path of the stimulating raysfrom said line light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet and atleast part of an optical path of the emitted light from the stimulablephosphor sheet to said line sensor overlap each other.
 122. A radiationimage read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a line light source forlinearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a front surface ofa stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored,the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit lightin proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposureto radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emittedfrom the linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphorsheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of aback surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to saidlinear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, said linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphorsheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor and ina direction different from a length direction of said linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet, iv) reading means for successively readingoutputs of said photoelectric conversion devices of said line sensor inaccordance with said movement, wherein said line sensor is a backilluminated type of CCD image sensor.
 123. An apparatus as defined inclaim 122 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD image sensorcomprises a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chipsarrayed in a straight line along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 124. An apparatus as defined inclaim 122 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD image sensorcomprises a plurality of back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chipsarrayed in a zigzag pattern along said length direction of said lineararea of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
 125. An apparatus as defined inclaim 122 , 123 , or 124 wherein the apparatus further comprises coolingmeans for cooling said back illuminated type of CCD image sensor.
 126. Aradiation image read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a line light sourcefor linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a frontsurface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image hasbeen stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheetto emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon duringits exposure to radiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, whichis emitted from the linear area of the front surface of the stimulablephosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a lineararea of a back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding tosaid linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet,and performing photoelectric conversion of the received light, said linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphorsheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor and ina direction different from a length direction of said linear area of thestimulable phosphor sheet, and iv) reading means for successivelyreading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices of said linesensor in accordance with said movement, wherein said line light sourceis constituted of an organic EL device.
 127. A radiation image read-outapparatus, comprising: i) line light source for linearly irradiatingstimulating rays onto an area of a front surface of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted fromthe linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheetexposed to the linear stimulating rays or from a linear area of a backsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said lineararea of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, andperforming photoelectric conversion of the received light, said linesensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devicesarrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulablephosphor sheet, iii) a light guiding optical system for guiding theemitted light, said light guiding optical system being located betweenthe stimulable phosphor sheet and said line sensor, and iv) scanningmeans for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said linelight source, said light guiding optical system, and said line sensorand in a direction different from a length direction of said linear areaof the stimulable phosphor sheet, wherein said light guiding opticalsystem has been subjected to coloring for transmitting only the emittedlight and filtering out the stimulating rays.
 128. A radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising: i) a surface light source forirradiating stimulating rays onto a front surface of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) an area sensor for receiving light, which is emitted fromthe area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposedto the stimulating rays or from an area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and performing photoelectricconversion of the received light, said area sensor comprising aplurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, and iii) readingmeans for reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting said area sensor, wherein said area sensor is a backilluminated type of CCD image sensor.
 129. An apparatus as defined inclaim 128 wherein said back illuminated type of CCD image sensorcomprises a plurality of arrayed back illuminated type of CCD imagesensor chips.
 130. An apparatus as defined in claim 129 wherein each ofsaid back illuminated type of CCD image sensor chips comprises aplurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed in two-dimensionaldirections.
 131. An apparatus as defined in claim 128 , 129 , or 130wherein the apparatus further comprises cooling means for cooling saidback illuminated type of CCD image sensor.
 132. A radiation imageread-out apparatus, comprising: i) a surface light source forirradiating stimulating rays onto a front surface of a stimulablephosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, thestimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light inproportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure toradiation, ii) an area sensor for receiving light, which is emitted fromthe area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposedto the stimulating rays or from an area of a back surface of thestimulable phosphor sheet corresponding to said area of the frontsurface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and performing photoelectricconversion of the received light; said area sensor comprising aplurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, and iii) readingmeans for reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devicesconstituting said area sensor, wherein said surface light source isconstituted of an organic EL device.